Nesting Diaries
Wendy D reports: I am very sad to report that I went to Constance's nest 2550 at least once per week and usually I sat for a few moments three times per week. I have never seen her or any activity at the nest since my last report where I feared she and the eggs were gone. I hope she is ok. This is the second year (2021 and now 2023) that something happened to her eggs. I hope she will return and have better success next year.
NOTE: We are listing about 5/14 as date of nest failure.
Wendy D reports:
I drive by at least two times per week. I can no longer see Constance and have not seen activity from the mate either. I am hopefully assuming she is still sitting on the nest. I know last year she went MIA. My fingers are crossed that she is successful this year. It was always hard to see her but I could see the tiniest bit of a white moving like her head. I have not been able to even see this.
NOTE: We will assume all is well until we are sure.
some observation dates included: April, 17, 20, 25 and May 12.
Wendy D reports: Wed March 29th, Constance is clearly sitting down in the nest on eggs! The photo is the first day of sitting. Each time I go, I can see her head a tiny bit and she will often be looking around as if a protective mother. I have not seen the male since she was sitting. She seems content so I am sure he is around.
Wendy D reports:
This email is encouraging because on March 6 and 8, I only saw the nest towards the back. Constance and her mate were on the nest the 6th and taking turns having dinner on the 8th.
Wendy D reports: Photo added of both hanging in the nest. They were doing this on March 1st also.
Wendy D reports: One photo added of what I think may be Constance's mate.
Wendy D reports: I can confirm seeing Constance and mate working in the nest. I also saw a third flying in the area. Could this be Larissa? Two photos added
Wendy D reports: I saw three Ospreys flying in the area of my nests. This was the first time that I had seen them in February
Wendy D reports that the nest is still there to start the 2023 season
NOTE: Based on observations, it is likely that the nestling fledged in early July. We are recording one fledged in early July as our best guess.
Wendy D reports: 2550 is empty. I have not seen Constance or her young. The nest is so deep I only saw the white of a head one time as I reported. Could it have already fledged? On all of the last three drive bys her nest is empty
Wendy D reports: Constance 2550 is still standing over her chick (s) . Her nest is so deep that I just watch the behavior and know that I saw the one. There was another adult on the light so I was glad to see Dad helping!
Wendy D reports: I went on May 3, 13, 20, 23 and 24 and every time she is faithfully standing guard over her nestling(s). Still just one glimpse of the top of a tiny white head which I reported last month.
Wendy D reports: Constance flew in with a big stick and was arranging it on the side of the nest. Maybe to serve as rails so they don't fall out????
Wendy D reports: So happy to report that I saw Constance fly into nest 2550 on April 18th, stand on the side of the nest and continually fuss into it. She must have at least one young. I cannot see the young yet. It was just very obvious parenting behavior!
Wendy D reports: faithfully "constantly" sitting on her nest. :)
Wendy D reports: Constance appears to be egg(s). She is in the nest and her mate has been nearby both yesterday when I first observed her sitting behavior and today! March 1st and 2nd.
Wendy D. reports: Constance has been seen on her nest multiple times. She had done some work on the nest too. On February 15th Mary Ellen B. saw Constance and Dad....um...fertilizing eggs:)
Wendy D reports: No activity seen.
Wendy D reports: One adult osprey at the nEst.
Wendy D reports: Two osprey seen flying in the vicinity of the nest.
NOTE: Based on consultation with Kristen M. of the Lowcountry Institute, we believe that the chick didn't survive and may have been taken by crows or owls.
Wendy D. For two days now I have seen nothing or any birds at the nest. Could the kites have gotten chicks? I am worried about Constance.
Wendy D reports: I have found Constance off the nest two of 5 times. I have not seen any heads in her deep nest again, so I still do not know if there are one or two young.
Wendy D reports: May 10th Constance hatched her baby!!! This may have happened late last week, she was sitting on the side of the nest, but I could not see anything. This time I clearly saw a little chick's head! So far it just looks like one.
Wendy D reports: Constance remains hunkered down on her nest. Can just see moving white flashes of her turning head to know she is still there.
Wendy D reports: Constance, way down in the nest definitely on the egg(s). I have to watch for a good 10-15 min to see if I see movement at the top of the nest, otherwise I would not see her at all. (report for 3/35-3/19)
Wendy D. reports: Constance 2550 is in her nest perhaps with an egg or two Note: We have assumed incubation is underway but our date of 3/13 is just a guess.
Wendy D reports: The nest looked slightly fuller and repaired. Constance was not visible but maybe was down in the nest with our March 1 lion weather.
Wendy and Mary Elle B combined report: Nest checked regularly and only one osprey (Constance) has been at the nest until 2/23 when a pair was seen in the nest and a third flying over the nest.
Wendy D reports:
Constance is back!!!! 2550 I went by on Feb 2nd and there she was sitting on the side of her nest.
Wendy D reports: Was empty the entire week so I think they must be on their own now.
Wendy D reports: Constance was back at the nest with one young. NOTE: based on this observation and June 18, we are guessing both fledged and still return to the nest as expected.
We recorded fledging as June 18 since this was the first report with no nestlings and would be appropriate based on the incubation/hatching dates.
Wendy D reports: Constance nest, 2550, appeared to be empty! Could I have missed them fledging?
Wendy D reports: I am so excited to report that there are 2 chicks in the nest. Constance 2550 was feeding 2 chicks who already had the white head!
Wendy D reports: Constance is busy with a very active little chick. The chick has been checking out the big world around it very curiously and actively. The little head was always moving. Mom was in the nest with the chick. Very exciting!
Wendy D reports: The nest is still fine following the storm. It appears that she may be feeding a chick.
Wendy D reports: Mom sitting on the nest the last two times I went. NOTE: Based on this, we will assume incubation has been underway for a couple days at least.
Wendy D reports: Constance remains on 2550, but seems to be in waiting. I have not seen a second osprey since that one high above her a couple of weeks ago.
Wendy D reports: Constance is back on 2550! I saw her twice this week starting Feb 2nd. On the 6th I saw another adult flying near by
Wendy D. reports: no activity yet
Wendy D reports: 2550 definitely fledged. There is no action or osprey sounds next to that next.
NOTE: Based on these last two observations, we will gues that the young one fledged on 6/23.
Wendy D reports: Lissa, no one around the nest, although I could hear what sounded like a hungry young Osprey near by. I could not find it. I know last year her chick was first to fledge and I could find it in the woods across the lot. Much of that woods has been cut, but I think the young one must have been near by.
Wendy D reports: Lissa clearly has one young Osprey with two adults flying overhead.
Wendy D reports: The nest is doing well and Mom is continuing to shade the one chick. I do not know where the Dad has been, hopefully out hunting fish for junior.
Wendy D reports: I have been consistently checking on my Osprey Moms because of this heat. The other day Lissa stood over her chick and shaded it with her wings out. She looked so hot! Today Mom was standing up in the nest with one chick.
Wendy D reports: While no young are visible, Mom is no longer in incubation posture but is standing up. Probably means there are chicks.
while we can not be sure, we have listed May 7th as a possible hatching date.
Wendy D reports:
Moms on 2550 and 2583 were in the nest and a bit fidgety but I do not believe there were any chicks yet. No other Osprey in area. This is my report for Sunday, May 5
Wendy D observes: I went again yesterday and have been going weekly. Both nests have adult white heads which appear when the adult moves. The nests are so high up it is hard to see anything. They must be deeper this year because I cannot see the birds on them until they move. I go at least every week, often more. My last view was this morning at 9:30 am. I saw Moms on both nests. No other osprey in area.
Wendy observes: the Mom was "restless" in the nest. incubation underway.
Wendy D reports: Lissa remains on her nest hunkered down so I only see a little white of her head. She definitely seems to be sitting on eggs. I have not seen her mate but assume he is out fishing. (Note: we will record this as confirmation she is incubating eggs. This date is our best guess.)
Wendy reports: Lissa was sitting on her nest (2550) again and it makes me think she may have eggs. It is much too high to see into the nest.
Observer Wendy D. reports: LIssa on nest 2550 was present on the 24th and 26th.
Wendy D reports: female osprey (named Lissa) is around the nest.
Wendy D. reports: Several times prior to the 2nd I went by and saw the juvenile Osprey sitting on side of nest. As of Aug 2nd I have not seen it. I think we can safely say it fledged. What a thrill. Sign me up for these nests next year!!
Wendy reports: Last Thursday the 19th I saw the young Osprey squawking from the NEST and an adult flew by during my 15 min.
Today I again see the juvenile squawking constantly and the Lissa sitting and preening in the next light pole.
all 2018 observations and photos by Wendy D.
observer Wendy D. reports: Both the 21st of June and today, I observed Mom Lissa and a chick in her nest, number 2550.
observer reports: Nest 2550 was quiet but I could see the top of a head moving in the nest. I am not certain but it appeared to be a chick. It did not have crisp color delineation like the parents do.
Observer reports that LIssa, the Mom, appeared to be feeding one chick. I could see a head just at the top of the nest and a second chick moving close to the mother, separate from the other, but not really able to see much. Verified 2 chicks.
Note: based on this, our best guess is that they hatched around the 15th of May....but that is our guess.
observer reports: I saw Mom on the nest today! No chicks yet that I could see and they were just sitting so we are still in waiting.
observer reports: Lissa was on her nest and her mate was standing on the edge of the nest.
observer reports: Nest 2550 there was a bird sitting horizontally and low in the nest. I have seen an osprey on the edges but never in this nest before. I will call her Lissa. That is with two S's. It is appropriately a supreme mother goddess in African mythology
incubation started about this date based on our best estimates.
no incubation behavior observed by osprey in nest on 3-11-18
No sign of ospreys at nest on 2/24/18
osprey at nest; another flew in with additional nesting material
No activity in nest; heard osprey chirping close-by
1 adult standing in nest tending to at least 1 chick
1 adult standing in nest chirping
2 adults standing in nest
One adult standing on nest chirping
1 adult standing on nest feeding chick(s)
1 adult flew in to the nest.
1 Red Tail Hawk standing guard in nest. Another Red Tail Hawk was fighting off 2 osprey trying to gain possession of the nest.
1 adult and 1 chick standing in nest
Heard osprey chirping in the nest
1 adult flapping wings in nest, chirping
Black vulture standing next to nest; no osprey seen
1 large chick standing on nest flapping wings
Observed 1 chick; 1 adult standing on nest
2 adults flapping their wings in the nest
Nest present. No adults seen.
1 adult flying over;1 chick sitting in nest
Nest present. No adults seen.