Nickname
Beattys Rd-Pohatcong Cell tower
Coordinates
(40.6774, -75.1127)
Substrate
Communication tower
Description
Pohatcong Cell tower.
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
| 2022 - CyclistBarb | 2021 - CyclistBarb | 2020 - CyclistBarb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 4/4/22 | ||
| aOccupied | Yes | No | Yes |
| aActive | |||
| bEgg Laying | |||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/23/22 | ||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/27/22 | ||
| dNestlings | 2 | 3 | |
| eFledglings | 2 | 3 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 8/8/20 | ||
| fChicks Last Observed | |||
| xNest Failure | |||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020
Activity reports
2020 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/08/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| 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 |
2022 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | 04/04/2022 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/23/2022 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/27/2022 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
07/25/2022 by CyclistBarb
10:10 a.m. One fledgling was above the nest on an upper post and the other fledgling was on the lower tier. Both flew off, circling around the tower and the field with lots of vocals! I saw the adult female land on a branch of a tree in the hedgerow to the south of the field the tower is on. Soon, one of the fledglings joined Mom on a lower branch in the same hedgerow. This fledgling was calling constantly while they perched close together. I did not see where the second fledgling landed.
07/12/2022 by CyclistBarb
8:00 a.m. One big chick was already "branching" on one of the tower posts. The female was on another and the second chick was sitting tall but still in the nest. Both chicks were wing-flapping though. It won't be long until these two fledge! All three were preening!
06/28/2022 by CyclistBarb
3:30 p.m. I saw the adult female sitting high on the nest between the structural posts. I moved slightly and saw one chick at 3:35. I moved a bit more and saw a second chick. They look pretty old. I would say 4-5 weeks old.
06/21/2022 by CyclistBarb
2:15 p.m. The female was on the post above the nest this time! I saw one chick for sure and got a reasonable photo of it with its beak open. I may have seen a second but can only confirm one for now. This chick perhaps appeared a bit younger than others in the area by a week or so.
06/17/2022 by CyclistBarb
3:30 p.m. The female was on the nest. I saw one chick wing stretch up. This was a sure sign there was at least one nestling.
06/06/2022 by CyclistBarb
4:12 p.m. When I arrived the male was perched on the high pole overlooking the nest. I can only see the nest from Beattys Rd, not from the farm field overlook. The female, partially hidden behind the structure, was sitting on the nest, but up high as if brooding. I saw her fussing with the bottom of the nest and moving around. It seems there must be nestling(s), but they were too small to see if they are in the nest.
05/10/2022 by CyclistBarb
4:02 p.m. An adult is still on the nest, a sure sign they are incubating eggs. While I watched the adult stood, rolled the eggs, then sat again.
04/23/2022 by CyclistBarb
12:30 p.m. This year the nest isn't visible from the upper field. I parked again, on the road, across from the access road. The adult (female) was on the nest, incubating. The male flew in and perched on the bottom tier.
04/04/2022 by CyclistBarb
1:09 p.m. I parked up on the hill in the farm field pull-in and saw that an adult was perched at the top of the tower. It was the female. She then moved down to nest level and sat in the nest. I drove down and parked across the road from the tower access road and heard 2 ospreys vocalizing loudly. I saw the male flying around and over the tower and over his mate, carrying a fish in his talons, but he landed on the bottom tier and began to eat the fish. The tail of the fish was still flapping! I wonder if he already brought fish for his mate and as she is sitting up top, he is now having his lunch. She left the nest and perched on top of the structure right above where the male was perched and eating on the lower tier.
07/30/2021 by CyclistBarb
10:35 a.m. This nest was still empty. No sign of adults or chicks which is disappointing as at least one of the adults was present in April. Unfortunately I did not visit the nest in May or June so I have no idea when or why this nest failed. It produced 3 fledglings and was active into August in 2020.
07/23/2021 by CyclistBarb
I am disappointed to find no sign of any osprey at this large, well-formed nest. On previous visits there appeared to be adult presence and even an adult sitting on the nest as if incubating. Today it appeared empty. Last year this nest produced 3 chicks and was active with family present into August when the chicks finally fledged.
07/05/2021 by CyclistBarb
4:00 p.m. I was surprised to find this nest totally empty with no sign of any osprey nearby during the entire time I observed. There were a few small birds perched on the tower which I doubt would have been around if the osprey family was present.
04/23/2021 by CyclistBarb
3:40 There is an adult sitting in the nest, but I have only seen one adult at this nest. I haven't seen two adults at one time here.
04/13/2021 by CyclistBarb
3:30-3:45 p.m. One adult is working on the nest but does not seem to be incubating eggs yet.
08/15/2020 by CyclistBarb
10:00 a.m. Again on a bike ride in the area, I observed the nest and took a photo of a completely empty nest. Chicks have all fledged and no one was home.
08/09/2020 by CyclistBarb
During a bike ride in the area, I saw the chicks on the nest and also saw the birds flying. I did not have my scope, just binoculars, so I could not determine which were chicks and which adults. However, these three have certainly fledged by now. I will estimate the fledge date as Aug. 8.
08/05/2020 by CyclistBarb
1:55-2:00p.m. I am doing very quick checks of as many nests as I can after yesterday's tropical storm Isaias. The severely high winds took down many trees and could have blown nests and chicks down. This nest is intact and I saw two chicks on the nest tower. One was sitting in the nest, the other perched on a pillar. The third is probably hidden behind a pillar, or perhaps the chicks have fledged and one is off somewhere.
07/24/2020 by CyclistBarb
1:30 p.m. I didn't watch for long. The three big chicks were self feeding on the nest. I didn't see either parent so they were probably both off hunting. These chicks are close to fledging.
07/19/2020 by CyclistBarb
4:45 p.m. I saw 3 big chicks and a parent (probably Mom) on the nest. Mom appears to be eating. These chicks look about the same age as others in this immediate area. They will fledge soon. Mom flies up to perch on one of the struts which over-looks the nest. Then I see the chicks start to eat. The eating is continuing when I leave to visit the next nest, with Mom watching from above.
07/14/2020 by CyclistBarb
6:45-7:00 p.m. The late afternoon light is good for viewing this nest from the corn field/dirt road. The adult (Mom no doubt) was perched on the pillar and I was delighted to see THREE CHICKS! The young are now almost as big as the parents and were taking turns wing-flapping and sitting up tall!
07/07/2020 by CyclistBarb
10:30 a.m. I approached the nest tower from route 173 heading north on Beatty's Rd. I decided to try the dirt road to the corn field first because it is at higher elevation. The tower is further away (than from the tower access road view point) and the light is bad as the sun is not yet out. This proves to be a good view though, as the nest is mostly facing this cornfield. I see the female perched on the tower post and one very obvious, big chick sitting tall, The other chick is also sitting up, but in all the photos it is partially hidden behind the tower structures. Its back is seen just to the right of its sibling.
06/28/2020 by CyclistBarb
4:25 p.m. I park at the gate to the tower access road and set up my scope and camera. I see that Mom is standing at the south edge of the tower by the nest. I am happy to also see one chick standing beside her. The photo is zoomed greatly and thus not in sharp focus, but one can clearly make out the little one! I will check back to see if this chick has sibling(s). I took a video and when watching it on the computer, there is movement which would indicate at least one other sibling.
06/13/2020 by CyclistBarb
9:20 a.m. Pulling up to the Beattys Rd turn in search of this nest, I see it is quite far away. The photo of the area is taken at this corner. I turn south on Beattys Rd and find the gated access road to the tower which seems to be the best spot from which to observe this nest. Through my scope I can see the back and part of the head of an adult standing at the edge of the nest. A lot of the nest is hidden by the tower structures so I don't know if there is another adult sitting on the nest.