Coordinates
(39.2454, -75.0028)
Substrate
Retired Marine Travel Lift
Description
The Osprey of Terrapin Cove. Terrapin Cove is the site of an abandoned marina on the Maurice River in SNJ. Now it is home to Osprey, a Purple Martin Colony and Diamondback Terrapins.
The same osprey pair has nested her in 2010, 2011 and 2012. They are confirmed by their bands placed by Jane Galetto.
Also on site is a boat ramp used by the Diamondback Terrapin each year to access land to lay eggs.
There is a growing Purple Martin colony with roughly 40 pair in gourds.
Visit our website and leave your observations.
Thank you
Hugh Richards
What to look for
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.
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.
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.
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 fly
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.
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.
Nest Failure
Look for signs of nest failure like adult abandonment, adults no longer incubating eggs or feeding young.
Review All Observations
| 2015 - Ben Wurst | 2013 - Ben Wurst | 2012 - terrapincove |
|---|
| aAdult Arrival | | | |
|---|
| aOccupied | Yes | No | No |
|---|
| aActive | | | |
|---|
| bEgg Laying | | | |
|---|
| bIncubation Initiation | | | |
|---|
| cClutch Hatching | | | 5/28/12 |
|---|
| dNestlings | 3 | | |
|---|
| eFledglings | | 3 | |
|---|
| eFirst Chick Fledging | | | |
|---|
| fChicks Last Observed | | | |
|---|
| xNest Failure | | | |
|---|
| xReason For Nest Failure | | | |
|---|
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2015 2013 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by
terrapincove| Adult arrival | | Nestlings | |
|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
|---|
| Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
|---|
| Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
|---|
| Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
|---|
| Clutch hatching | 05/28/2012 | Reason for nest failure | |
|---|
2013 Nest Activity Report by
Ben Wurst| Adult arrival | | Nestlings | |
|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 3 |
|---|
| Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
|---|
| Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
|---|
| Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
|---|
| Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
|---|
2015 Nest Activity Report by
Ben Wurst| Adult arrival | | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
|---|
| Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
|---|
| Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
|---|
| Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
|---|
| Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
|---|
Nesting Diaries
First egg hathces 5/28 and the second on 5/29.
http://terrapincove.org
live osprey cam
