Coordinates
(36.9038, -76.0782)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
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.
Previous Next Review All Observations
| 2023 - KeriP | 2019 - Reese | 2018 - Reese | 2017 - Reese | 2016 - Reese | 2015 - Reese | 2015 - Crystal | 2014 - LibbyM | 2014 - Reese | 2014 - Crystal | 2013 - LibbyM |
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aAdult Arrival | | | | | | | | | | | |
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aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
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aActive | | | | | | | | | | | |
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bEgg Laying | | | | | | | | | | | |
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bIncubation Initiation | | | | | | | | 4/5/14 | | | |
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cClutch Hatching | 5/5/23 | | | | | | | 5/14/14 | | | |
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dNestlings | | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
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eFledglings | | 0 | | | | | | | | 3 | |
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eFirst Chick Fledging | | | | | | | | | | 7/17/14 | |
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fChicks Last Observed | | | | | | | | | | 7/17/14 | |
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xNest Failure | | 6/19/19 | | | | | | | | | |
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xReason For Nest Failure | | unknown reason | | | | | | | | | |
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Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Activity reports
2013 Nest Activity Report by
LibbyMAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2014 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2014 Nest Activity Report by
CrystalAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 3 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | 07/17/2014 |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | 07/17/2014 |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2014 Nest Activity Report by
LibbyMAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 3 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | 04/05/2014 | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | 05/14/2014 | Reason for nest failure | |
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2015 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2015 Nest Activity Report by
CrystalAdult arrival | | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2016 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2017 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 3 |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2018 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 2 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2019 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | 3 |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 0 |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | 06/19/2019 |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | unknown reason |
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2023 Nest Activity Report by
KeriPAdult arrival | | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | 05/05/2023 | Reason for nest failure | |
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Nesting Diaries
June 21, 2018 - Banded two chicks with purple bands 33/D and 34/D
June 7 - one chick just hatched and two eggs - see photo
June 16, 2017 - Banded the three nestlings purple bands 12/D, 13/D, and 14/D
Banded the two chicks in this nest purple 04/D and 05/D on June 27 with Virginia Aquarium staff
Nest occupied. Adults acting like chicks in nest but can't see them.
Three eggs as of May 4, 2015
Osprey are the "junk collectors" of the bird world. This nest has a green rake. See photos.
3 fledglings 45-50 days old. One female fledgling flying around with Oyster Toad in talons.
1 adult unbanded female seen at nest. Two chicks observed 5-6 weeks old. It was hard to see in nest so third chick may have been there just not observed.
1 adult unbanded female at nest with 3 chicks- 5 weeks old. Plastic green rake seen in nest.
2 chicks 4 wk old chicks. 2 adults present.