Nickname
Hog Island - Audubon Camp
Coordinates
(43.979, -69.4171)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Description
Nest sits atop a man-made pole at the water's edge next to the Hog Island Audubon camp buildings. A nest cam follows activities during the summer season. Nest has been used for many years. Osprey parents: Steve & Rachel.
Nest Cam
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
| 2019 - Olivia | 2017 - Olivia | 2016 - Ben Wurst | 2016 - Evelyn G. | 2015 - Evelyn G. | 2014 - Evelyn G. | 2013 - Regina | 2013 - Evelyn G. | 2012 - Hogisland | 2012 - Evelyn G. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 4/10/18 | 4/7/17 | 4/13/16 | 4/12/15 | 4/11/14 | 4/3/13 | 4/5/13 | |||
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| aActive | ||||||||||
| bEgg Laying | 4/24/18 | 4/25/17 | 4/30/15 | 4/27/14 | 4/26/13 | 4/26/13 | 4/29/12 | |||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/24/18 | 4/26/17 | 4/30/15 | 4/27/14 | ||||||
| cClutch Hatching | 6/2/18 | 6/4/17 | 6/7/15 | 6/5/14 | 6/3/13 | 6/3/13 | 6/7/12 | |||
| dNestlings | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ||
| eFledglings | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 7/31/18 | 8/8/17 | 7/31/14 | 7/30/13 | 7/30/13 | 8/2/12 | ||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 8/2/18 | 6/26/15 | 9/14/14 | 9/13/13 | 9/14/13 | 9/7/12 | ||||
| xNest Failure | 6/26/15 | |||||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure | eggs or young killed by predator | other |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by Hogisland
| 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 |
2013 Nest Activity Report by Regina
| Adult arrival | 04/03/2013 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/30/2013 | |
| Egg laying | 04/26/2013 | Chicks last observed | 09/13/2013 |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 06/03/2013 | Reason for nest failure | 3rd egg never hatched |
2012 Nest Activity Report by Evelyn G.
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/02/2012 | |
| Egg laying | 04/29/2012 | Chicks last observed | 09/07/2012 |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 06/07/2012 | Reason for nest failure |
2013 Nest Activity Report by Evelyn G.
| Adult arrival | 04/05/2013 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/30/2013 | |
| Egg laying | 04/26/2013 | Chicks last observed | 09/14/2013 |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 06/03/2013 | Reason for nest failure |
2014 Nest Activity Report by Evelyn G.
| Adult arrival | 04/11/2014 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/31/2014 | |
| Egg laying | 04/27/2014 | Chicks last observed | 09/14/2014 |
| Incubation initiation | 04/27/2014 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/05/2014 | Reason for nest failure |
2015 Nest Activity Report by Evelyn G.
| Adult arrival | 04/12/2015 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 0 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/30/2015 | Chicks last observed | 06/26/2015 |
| Incubation initiation | 04/30/2015 | Nest failure | 06/26/2015 |
| Clutch hatching | 06/07/2015 | Reason for nest failure | eggs or young killed by predator |
2016 Nest Activity Report by Evelyn G.
| Adult arrival | 04/13/2016 | 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 |
2016 Nest Activity Report by Ben Wurst
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2017 Nest Activity Report by Olivia
| Adult arrival | 04/07/2017 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/08/2017 | |
| Egg laying | 04/25/2017 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/26/2017 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/04/2017 | Reason for nest failure |
2019 Nest Activity Report by Olivia
| Adult arrival | 04/10/2018 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/31/2018 | |
| Egg laying | 04/24/2018 | Chicks last observed | 08/02/2018 |
| Incubation initiation | 04/24/2018 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/02/2018 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
02/16/2019 by Olivia
Photo posted of updated nest chart for 2018 shows dates of predation of two of three chicks by Great Horned Owl -
08/20/2017 by Olivia
7-11-17: Chick 2 (Sierra) taken by GHO at 1:35 AM;
7-13-17: Chick 1 (Aspen) taken by GHO at 12:33 AM;
Nest with 3rd chick defended by female (Rachel) against subsequent owl attacks;
3rd chick (Bailey) attempted fledge on 7/29/17; Rescued by camp manager and placed in nearby nest platform; Fledged from that nest 8/8/17
05/01/2017 by Olivia
Steve arrived 4/7/17 and Rachel on 4/10/17; Eggs laid: 4/25/17 at 6:46 PM; 4/28/17 at 4:00 PM; 5/1/17 at 4:16 PM
08/08/2016 by Ben Wurst
Pretty amazing video showing the nest being predated by an adult bald eagle: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/03/488588696/in-captivating-video-a-bald-eagle-attacks-an-osprey-nest
06/30/2015 by Evelyn G.
I am deeply sad to report that an eagle took Rachel's and Steve's 2 osprey chicks from the nest at 340 PM EDT on Fri., 26 June 2015. They were 15 and 19 days old.
06/22/2015 by Evelyn G.
Egg #2 of Rachel's and Steve's 3-egg clutch for 2015, laid on 4 May, has turned out to be non-viable.
06/08/2015 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's chick #1 of the 2015 clutch hatched from egg #1 at 922 PM EDT on Sun., 7 June, after nearly 38 days of incubation. Chick #2 hatched from egg #3 at 243 PM EDT on Thurs., 11 June, after 35 days of incubation.
05/06/2015 by Evelyn G.
Rachel laid the 3rd of 3 eggs of her and Steve's 2015 clutch on Thurs., 7 May; the 2nd egg, on Mon., 4 May; and the 1st egg, on Thurs., 30 Apr.
04/12/2015 by Evelyn G.
A female and a male osprey appeared at the nest today, Sun., 12 Apr. Debate ensues as to whether they are, in fact, Rachel and Steve, the osprey pair who have been nesting at Hog Island, Maine, for several years. The consensus thus far seems to be that the female is Rachel; there is divided opinion about whether the male is Steve. We are awaiting official ID by Audubon. Around 1030 AM EDT today, a male arrived at the nest and departed. Shortly after 1 PM EDT today, a female arrived, followed by a male.
03/25/2015 by Evelyn G.
We are eagerly awaiting the return of Rachel and Steve to the Hog Island, Maine, nest.
09/20/2014 by Olivia
Two additional photos of informational charts have been added: Hog Island Osprey Fish Count Data and a chart of events from first to last sighting for each year of observation.
09/20/2014 by Olivia
The 2014 season fish count data is posted as a photo on this site. A total of 805 fish deliveries to the nest were counted between April 11 and September 13, when Steve delivered the last mackerel to Pia at 6:12 PM. Steve delivered 645 fish, and Rachel, 158. There were two deliveries with no clear proof of who brought them.
09/20/2014 by Olivia
An updated chart of events has been posted as a photo. This is a compilation of data for major events for each year of observation - 2012, 2013, and 2014.
09/14/2014 by Evelyn G.
Goshawkeyes’s 1+-min. video of Pia’s last take-off from the perch @ 7 AM EDT today, Sun., 14 Sept. 2014 --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSqX-k0s9m8
09/14/2014 by Evelyn G.
Arlene Beech's (Homebird’s) 4-min. video of the last time Pia was on the nest, @ 7 AM EDT today, Sun., 14 Sept. 2014 --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBOqlKfhkU
09/14/2014 by Evelyn G.
Today, Sun., 14 Sept. 2014, we last spotted last-hatched chick, Pia, at the nest @ 702 AM EDT. We last spotted Steve yesterday, Sat., 13 Sept. 2014.. We believe that both Pia and Steve have now left on their fall migration to South America. Remarkably, this is 1 year, to the date, after Steve migrated with last-hatched chick, Tory, last year.
09/06/2014 by Evelyn G.
We believe that first-hatched offspring Poole and Pan have migrated, having last spotted them on Tues., 26 Aug. Since then, we have been watching last-hatched offspring Pia being fed by Steve, wondering whether she's learning to hunt successfully on her own or will have to do so during migration. In 2012, Steve remained with last-hatched Sibley till they both disappeared on 7 Sept. In 2013, Steve remained with last-hatched Tory till they both disappeared on 14 Sept.
08/29/2014 by Evelyn G.
We believe that Rachel has now migrated. Fortunately, Charlotte Gobbens made a video of Rachel's last recorded appearance at the Hog Island nest on Mon., 25 Aug. --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009gTeXaPK0&feature=youtu.be
Cam Op Lynnie and kalcat both believe they spotted Rachel on the mast of the Crown Royale on Tues., 26 Aug. No recorded sightings of Rachel since then.
08/17/2014 by Evelyn G.
We are anticipating Rachel's migration. In 2012 and 2013, she has migrated in mid to late Aug. In 2013, Olivia has a pic of Rachel on 23 Aug., the last record we have of her appearance at the nest last year.
08/13/2014 by Evelyn G.
Pia, the 3rd-hatched chick, fledged at 730 AM EDT on Thurs., 7 Aug., 59 days after hatching on 9 June.
08/12/2014 by Evelyn G.
Poole, the 1st-hatched chick, fledged 7-8 AM EDT on Fri., 1 Aug. 2014, 57 days after hatching on 5 June. (The live cam was off, so we don't know the precise time.)
07/31/2014 by Evelyn G.
Pan, the 2nd-hatched chick, was the 1st chick to fledge at 907 AM EDT on Thurs., 31 July 2014, 55 days after hatching on 6 June. He's following in the footsteps (or wing flaps) of Tory in 2013, also a 2nd-hatched chick who was the 1st in his clutch to fledge.
06/09/2014 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's chick #3 hatched at 644 AM EDT, today, Mon., 9 June 2014. So they now have 3 offspring to feed and raise, as in 2012. Here's hoping they all fledge and migrate successfully.
06/06/2014 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's chick #2 hatched at 942 AM EDT, today, Fri., 6 June. Many community members were able to witness the hatch.
06/05/2014 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's chick #1 came into the world at 323 AM EDT today, Thurs., 5 June 2014. Pip on egg #2 1st noticed at 2 AM EDT today, as well.
06/04/2014 by Evelyn G.
We have a classic star-shaped pip on an egg this AM, Wed., 4 June 2014, day 38. First noticed at 649 AM EDT by Gigi. Will chick #1 hatch today, or tomorrow? Both days are within the hatch window of the past 2 years -- 38-39 days after egg arrival.
05/03/2014 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's third egg arrived at 1232 PM EDT today, Sat., 3 May, nearly 72 hours after egg #2.
04/30/2014 by Evelyn G.
Rachel's and Steve's second egg arrived at 109 PM EDT today, Wed., 30 Apr., more than 67 hours after egg #1.
04/29/2014 by Evelyn G.
It's great to see both Rachel and Steve return to the Hog Island, Maine, nest after their winter in South America. Their first egg of what we hope will be a viable clutch of two or three arrived at 548 PM EDT on Sun., 27 Apr. She's keeping to her prior schedule, having laid her first egg on 26 Apr. in 2013 and on 29 Apr. in 2012.
10/28/2013 by Olivia
Beginning June 27, a tally of fish deliveries to the nest was kept. Through July 29, 291 fish were brought to the nest by Rachel and Steve, with the highest tally noted for several days of 13 fish. Fish species included mostly mackerel along various types of herring and flounder. Also, Rachel delivered a squid for the chicks. Steve, the adult male, was observed several times bringing in two fish at once. After the chicks began fledging on July 30, fish deliveries continued to the nest and ended on September 13, with a grand total of 450 fish. The juveniles were observed fishing. Tory caught what was believed to be a sculpin and brought it to the nest.
10/01/2013 by Pwent84
I believe that no one knows when they arrived because they were already there when the camera went on.
09/19/2013 by Evelyn G.
Jay Adams and I have assembled data for summer 2012. Libby Mojica is working on entering it. Do any of the "old-timers" know Steve's and Rachel's 2012 arrival date? That's the only piece of data we're missing.
09/19/2013 by Evelyn G.
Thanks for all the gorgeous osprey pix of Rachel, Steve, Tory, and Mabel that members are posting. I see we've even got a couple of Hog Island, Maine, sunsets in there, too.
09/18/2013 by BostonBean
Dad Steve and Tory migrated together after a night of very heavy rainfall, early the morning of Sept 14.
09/17/2013 by Olivia
1st egg laid: 4/26/13 @ 2:48 AM EDT;
2nd egg laid: 4/28/13 @ 9:55 PM EDT;
3rd egg laid: 5/1/13 @ 5:57 PM EDT
09/17/2013 by Evelyn G.
Nest Activity Report -- Egg laying -- Rachel had laid a 3rd egg on 1 May. Still searching for data on the dates for the 1st 2 eggs.
09/17/2013 by Evelyn G.
Summer 2013 Data Summary -- Steve and Rachel returned to the nest for the 2nd year that a live cam was operating. They laid 3 eggs. Offspring Mabel and Tory successfully hatched and fledged. A 3rd egg turned out to be non-viable.
09/18/2012 by Evelyn G.
Summer 2012 Data Summary -- Rachel and Steve returned to the nest for the 1st year that an Audubon / explore.org live cam was operating. They laid 3 eggs beginning on 29 Apr. 3 chicks -- Sky, Ollie, and Sibley -- successfully hatched beginning on 7 June and successfully fledged beginning on 2 Aug. Rachel migrated mid to late Aug. with Sky and Ollie, the 2 1st-hatched offspring, soon thereafter. Steve migrated with Sibley, the 3rd-hatched offspring, on 7 Sept. See details posted above. Many thanks to Jay Adams for his assistance in providing this data.