Nickname
Cross Island X-Way Sign
Coordinates
(32.2107, -80.7387)
Substrate
Description
Cross Island X-Way Sign: These birds have been named Sonny and Rosie by the nest monitor.
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 - CarolC | 2022 - CarolC | 2021 - CarolC | 2020 - CarolC | 2019 - CarolC | 2018 - CarolC | 2014 - CarolC | 2013 - CarolC | 2012 - KristenM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/19/21 | 3/22/20 | 3/12/19 | 2/24/18 | 12/24/13 | ||||
| aOccupied | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| aActive | |||||||||
| bEgg Laying | 3/21/19 | ||||||||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/19/20 | ||||||||
| cClutch Hatching | 4/26/19 | ||||||||
| dNestlings | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| eFledglings | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 6/26/19 | ||||||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 6/26/18 | ||||||||
| xNest Failure | 5/30/21 | ||||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure | unknown reason | other |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by KristenM
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 0 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2013 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2014 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 12/24/2013 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2018 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 02/24/2018 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 06/26/2018 | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2019 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 03/12/2019 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/26/2019 | |
| Egg laying | 03/21/2019 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 04/26/2019 | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 03/22/2020 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/19/2020 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 03/19/2021 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | 05/30/2021 | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | no activity for 6 weeks |
2022 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | unknown reason |
2023 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 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 |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
06/05/2023 by CarolC
Karen R and Sue R report:
Neither has seen any activity at this nest the week of May 29-Jun3
Based on a lack of activity, we are calling this nest inactive for this season.
05/07/2023 by CarolC
Mary Ellen and Bill H reported on this "drive by" nest:
Bill and I saw TWO Osprey in the nest.
04/26/2023 by CarolC
Sue R. drives by the nest at times and sent the following observations:
Tuesday 4/25: 2 birds about 7:30am and again about 8:15am
Wednesday 4/26: 1 bird about 8:15am
04/11/2023 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Drove by twice today and saw one Osprey sitting in nest both times … lots of white feathers on chest but not sure that means anything … will check again this week.
03/27/2023 by CarolC
Rosemary S reports: I saw one bird on the nest today (3/27/23) shortly after 1pm.
03/11/2023 by CarolC
Karen R reports: I drove by the nest twice today but unfortunately 'no activity' spotted.
03/02/2023 by CarolC
Karen R reports: My fellow co-monitor for this location spotted an Osprey at the nest February 19th. Hopefully, we'll continue to see more activity.
02/13/2023 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Just took a drive to the Island and YEP the nest is much larger than last year .. previously it was just a bunch of random sticks and now it has more shape and more sticks etc in a nest shape.... still quite small compared to what it was years ago but it's promising. I did notice two osprey flying over /around the cross island expressway as i was leaving... so technically nest #2549 has promise based on my observation today and the other observation.
01/30/2023 by CarolC
Karen R reports that very little of the nest remains at the start of the 2023 season
04/02/2022 by CarolC
Karen R reports: no activity at all. We are marking this nest as inactive this year.
03/15/2022 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Drove by twice on March 14th - but NO ACTIVITY. Nest looks same as it did late January.... sparse.
05/30/2021 by CarolC
Karen R reports: drove by 3 times in past week ... unfortunately no activity. Note: another person went by this nest and didn't see anything either.
This nest may be inactive this year since there has been no activity for about 6 weeks.
03/06/2021 by CarolC
Mary Ellen H was able to get a quick photo with an osprey in the nest. This nest is very difficult to monitor since you simply need to slow up on a busy highway to see it. We have many eyes on the nest because if this!
02/25/2021 by CarolC
Joanne V. confirmed one osprey sitting on the structure where the nest is located.
02/21/2021 by CarolC
Karen R reports no activity;
Additional note: Since this nest is on a crossbar over a busy highway with no place to stop and observe, it is very difficult to monitor the progress. A few days ago another person reported seeing an osprey in the vicinity of the nest.
02/21/2021 by CarolC
Another observer spotted one osprey in/at this nest. While there may be one osprey around the nest, no one has seen the pair yet.
on 2/21/21
02/16/2021 by CarolC
Karen R reports: No sign of our ospreys for Nest#2549. Hopefully when they return they will rebuild the nest as it's missing lots of support branches.
07/24/2020 by CarolC
This is a very hard nest to monitor since it is on the crossbar on a busy road with no place to stop and observe. While there were 2 confirmed nestlings, we can not verify that they fledged. They probably did, but because we cannot be sure, we will not record any fledglings.
07/03/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: I did see a "whitish" head in the nest... my guess one of the adults.
06/21/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Made two “passes” today but no activity either time for nest #2549!
06/07/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Nothing coming on to HHI but 30 minutes later 1 in nest but difficult to asses whether it was a juvenile or adult
06/06/2020 by CarolC
Bob C reports: One osprey seen in the nest...head and shoulders. Not sure if it was an adult or juvenile.
05/10/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports:Today I noticed one adult and I’m quite sure two little heads in the nest.
NOTE: We added 2 nestlings to the nest report, which means our incubation date is off. This nest is hard to monitor because you can only check it while driving....there is no place to stop to view this nest on the crossbar on this busy road.
05/03/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: ... spotted both adults ... one in nest (probably female) and other flying towards the nest about 20 feet away ... so Sonny and Rosie appear to be doing well ... did not see any bobbing heads in nest but as you know it’s a difficult angle from the road.
04/24/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: spotted a “rather white” adult sitting down in nest ... no other activity. Hoping for chicks soon!
NOTE: Based on this report, we are assuming that incubation has started in the past 10 days. we will simply guess the 19th.
03/22/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Sonny and Rosie spotted today around 3pm ... one sitting up in nest and the other just flew away from nest .. no fledglings yet
03/08/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: no sign of any osprey at the nest. Hoping Rosie and Sonny return soon.
03/08/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: no sign of any osprey at the nest. Hoping Rosie and Sonny return soon.
02/22/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: saw ONE adult osprey in Nest # 2549 today. Since I noticed another observer had names for their osprey - how about "Sonny" and "Rosie" for #2549? Nest looked a wee bit better but still work to do.
02/12/2020 by CarolC
Karen R reports: was on Cross Island Expressway today - but still no activity ... nest still in need of repair
06/29/2019 by CarolC
Note; Based on observations by Karen R and the report of another person, we assume that the young have successfully fledged sometime between 6/11 and 6/28. We will go with 6/26 as our best guess since that is about 8 weeks after we believe they hatched.
06/11/2019 by CarolC
Karen R reports: Carol - Just drove past nest #2549 and YEP - three ospreys were sitting up tall - appeared one in middle was slightly smaller but not by much
06/04/2019 by CarolC
Another observer reported that she saw three heads in the nest on June 4th. It was either two young and an adult or three young. While we recorded two nestlings, we will update it when we can determine if there are really 3 young.
05/18/2019 by CarolC
Karen R reports: active nest - yes... but not much else spotted today other than ONE adult sitting up as if he was monitoring the Cross Island Expressway!
05/18/2019 by CarolC
NOTE: Based on Karen's observations, we are guessing that eggs were laid by March 21 when Mom was "hunkered down"in the nest. Then, beginning around April 26, one osprey has been standing in the nest. This nest if very high and deep so we are still not able to see any little ones, but the above dates seem to be our best guesses on the timing.
05/06/2019 by CarolC
Karen R reports:... spotted ONE adult Osprey standing up tall in nest ... no others activity from my vantage point!
04/26/2019 by CarolC
Karen R reports: spotted ONE adult perched and sitting tall in nest - today at 5PM.
03/13/2019 by CarolC
observer Karen R reports: no activity seen. However, this nest can only be seen as you drive by...no place to stop and observe.
03/12/2019 by CarolC
another observer, Jeff M, reported: Just a quick helpful side note on nest #2549 - with no perch at the expressway hard to prove both Ospreys are there as you zip down the expressway. Well yesterday BOTH Ospreys were perched on the nest.
The two osprey were also seen on the nest previously by Carol C.
02/18/2019 by CarolC
observer Karen R. reports: The nest is still on the crossbar but there doesn't appear to be any activity yet.
06/25/2018 by CarolC
observer reports: Both chicks were together in the nest and definitely smaller than the two adults but still much larger than I thought. NOTE: Because of the height and depth of this nest on the highway crossbar, it is nearly impossible to tell when an osprey is incubating eggs or when the chicks hatch.
06/24/2018 by CarolC
observer reports two juvenile osprey sitting outside the nest on the crossbar post. This is the first time we could verify chicks.
06/03/2018 by CarolC
Spotted one adult at the nest today. Note: This nest if high up on a roadway crossbar and the nest is deep. It is usually very hard to tell if there are young in the nest.
05/03/2018 by CarolC
observer reports: Drove by twice today ... one adult sitting in nest both times ...
by CarolC