Nickname
HARBOURGATE
Coordinates
(36.9077, -76.0915)
Substrate
Channel Marker
Description
G "5" NO WAKE SIGN
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
| 2015 - HOWIE COLLINS | 2014 - HOWIE COLLINS | |
|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 5/15/14 | |
| aOccupied | No | Yes |
| aActive | ||
| bEgg Laying | ||
| bIncubation Initiation | ||
| cClutch Hatching | ||
| dNestlings | 0 | |
| eFledglings | ||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | ||
| fChicks Last Observed | ||
| xNest Failure | 5/4/14 | |
| xReason For Nest Failure | adult abandonment | adult abandonment |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2015 2014
Activity reports
2014 Nest Activity Report by HOWIE COLLINS
| Adult arrival | 05/15/2014 | 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 | adult abandonment |
2015 Nest Activity Report by HOWIE COLLINS
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | 05/04/2014 | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | adult abandonment |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
05/15/2014 by HOWIE COLLINS
the pair had apparently abandoned attempts to build a nest, then on 5/11/14 the pair were observed sitting on opposite sides of the structure and there appeared to be new nesting material at the bottom of the platform. The pair were there again on 5/12-5/15 and more material has been added. On 5/15 it appeared that the female was setting on the nesting material. Hope this turns into an active nest although it seems late for beginning a new nest.
04/03/2014 by HOWIE COLLINS
3/31/14 OBSERVED MALE CARRYING TWIG FROM OUR BEACH TO NEST. WINDS WERE TOO HIGH FOR HIM TO ADD IT TO NEST, THEN 2 SEAGULLS APPROACHED AND SEEMED TO BE HARRASSING HIM (THINKING THE TWIG WAS A FISH?) HE LEFT AND FLEW TOWARD LESNER BRIDGE. ON 4/1/14 A PAIR SETTLED ON THE STRUCTURE AND SPENT MOST OF THE NEXT 2 DAYS THERE. THE MALE ADDED SOME TWIGS BUT DOESN'T SEEM VERY COMMITTED TO BUILDING A NEST, AND MOSTLY DISAPPEARS FOR THE DAY, MEANWHILE THE FEMALE SITS ON THE RAIL HOUR AFTER HOUR.
03/26/2014 by HOWIE COLLINS
There has been no nest building activity yet. There also has been no activity on the nearby pilings which have had nests for the past several years. I wonder if the weather has deterred them & is it too late to expect nest building now?
03/11/2014 by HOWIE COLLINS
2012 was the first year we saw this nest occupied in the 20 years we have lived at Harbourgate condos. This was likely due to the close-by boat traffic which passes within yards of the marker, but the last two years the Ospreys seem to have adapted. last week, 3/3-3/7 there were 4 Ospreys soaring around the marker, seeming to be checking it out, but they haven't reappeared as of 3/11