Nickname
Chimney Lookout
Coordinates
(37.2234, -76.6658)
Substrate
chimney on condo
Description
Waterfront condo buildings in the Resort at Kingsmill overlooking the James River. Richmond's Ordinary
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
| 2023 - JTucker | 2022 - JTucker | 2021 - JTucker | 2020 - Cathy110 | 2019 - JTucker | 2018 - JTucker | 2017 - JTucker | 2016 - JTucker | 2015 - JTucker | 2014 - JTucker | 2013 - JTucker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/5/23 | 3/13/22 | 3/3/20 | 3/15/19 | 3/1/18 | 3/9/17 | 3/17/16 | 3/15/15 | 3/15/14 | ||
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| aActive | |||||||||||
| bEgg Laying | 3/22/23 | 4/14/22 | |||||||||
| bIncubation Initiation | 3/22/23 | 4/14/22 | 4/10/20 | 3/30/18 | 3/28/17 | 4/15/17 | 4/30/15 | 4/18/14 | |||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/3/23 | 5/17/22 | 5/16/20 | 6/14/19 | 5/31/17 | 6/16/15 | 6/26/14 | ||||
| dNestlings | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| eFledglings | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 7/8/23 | 6/9/22 | 7/22/20 | 6/25/20 | 8/3/19 | 8/11/15 | |||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 8/9/22 | 11/25/20 | 1/17/08 | 8/13/15 | 8/21/14 | ||||||
| xNest Failure | |||||||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Activity reports
2013 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| 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 |
2014 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/15/2014 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 08/21/2014 | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/18/2014 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/26/2014 | Reason for nest failure |
2015 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/15/2015 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/11/2015 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 08/13/2015 | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/30/2015 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/16/2015 | Reason for nest failure |
2018 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/01/2018 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 03/30/2018 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2017 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/09/2017 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 01/17/0008 | |
| Incubation initiation | 03/28/2017 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/31/2017 | Reason for nest failure |
2016 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/17/2016 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/15/2017 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2019 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/15/2019 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/03/2019 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 06/14/2019 | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by Cathy110
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/25/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/03/2020 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/22/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 11/25/2020 | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/10/2020 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/16/2020 | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/13/2022 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/09/2022 | |
| Egg laying | 04/14/2022 | Chicks last observed | 08/09/2022 |
| Incubation initiation | 04/14/2022 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/17/2022 | Reason for nest failure |
2023 Nest Activity Report by JTucker
| Adult arrival | 03/05/2023 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/08/2023 | |
| Egg laying | 03/22/2023 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 03/22/2023 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/03/2023 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
07/22/2023 by JTucker
3/27 rainy, no one
3/28 one flying in area, caught fish, but didn't take back to my nest, flew down river
3/30, 3/31 no one
4/3, 4/5, 4/7 no one
4/28 rainy, no one
5/1 no one
5/8 mom in nest upright
(Expected keeping close to brood patch 5/3 - 5/13.)
5/13 no one
5/16 mom head up, stretched wings, back down ito nest
(Suppose rolling eggs or stretching after brood patch/)
5/18 no one Saw 4 flying over playground where another nest is.
5/22 no one, nice day
5/30, 6/2, 6/5, 6/9, 6/14(7PM), 6/30 no one
7/2 adult on side
7/6 adult on side
(Suppose was mom after a fishing trip to feed chick.)
7/12, 7/17 no one (Chick should have fledged 7/8.)
7/22 no one. Sue's nest had one in nest with head sticking up. Three flying around below over the water, but did not observe them going to a nest.
03/25/2023 by JTucker
3/5 - Cheryl said one on the nest (and pair on Sue's nest nearby)
3/6 - female on nest
3/10 - female on nest and male flying overhead
3/15 - none on nest or flying around
3/20 - femaie moving around in nest
3/24 - female down in nest, head sticking out
08/09/2022 by JTucker
2022
3/13 Female on nest, Male flying above on windy day
3/21, 22, 30 - pair on edge of nest, poking around in nest
3/31 incubation starts
4/13, 19 - no one visible
4/22, 29 - no head visible in nest, Male on side of nest
5/4 - head up in nest
5/10 - no head visible
5/13 - female and male on side of nest
5/17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26 - 2 on nest, heads bobbing into the center of nest
5/27 - 4 adults flying overhead - Drying wings after rain? (There are two nests nearby.)
6/8, 15, 22, 29 - no one visible, adults out fishing, maybe chick hiding low in nest
7/9, 16. 23 - observations from marina: osprey circling or diving. Could include newly fledged chick.
8/9 - no activity in area
05/01/2018 by JTucker
Throughout April incubation behavior observed. Male occasionally spotted sitting on side of nest.
03/22/2018 by JTucker
Female on tree, male flying over water. Both moved to nest. Sat together scanning area. Male mounted female. Male and female sat on nest quietly.
03/14/2018 by JTucker
Male and female on nest. Then flew together over water in a choreography that matched the yoga class music during the sunrise. Then alternated sitting on nest.
03/01/2018 by JTucker
Male flying over last year's nest then out to river and back. Did not land. No other osprey in sight.
07/18/2017 by JTucker
Dad delivered fish. Mom and Dad sat on edge of nest. Mom bent over to help tear the fish.
05/31/2017 by JTucker
5/31/17
From Cheryl J: Mom and Dad on next feeding. Chicks too small to see the heads to determine how many there are.
05/18/2017 by JTucker
Both M and F sitting on the edge of the nest.! Turns out she must just have been stretching since it is warm enough to leave eggs uncovered for a while. She went back in and down after about 15 minutes.
05/03/2017 by JTucker
From Cheryl J: Mom was down so low that I could barely see her...The male came by with a fish for her so he is doing "his job well".
04/15/2016 by JTucker
Incubation behavior. Female low in nest, flat back, head pops up to look around, then down.
06/18/2015 by JTucker
One bird on edge of nest. No bobbing behavior. It's been 42 days, so likely egg(s) hatched recently. Suspect beginning of brooding.
05/28/2015 by JTucker
Two birds on edge of nest. One flies off and is gone a long time. Other takes a short flight to stretch. No bobbing behavior. Suspect this is incubation behavior.
03/15/2015 by JTucker
Nest is a few buildings over from 2014. Possibly due to close proximity of Chimney Lookout II established in 2014.
05/26/2014 by JTucker
Male sitting up on side of nest alone. Not lookinginto the nest. Flew off for 2 minutes, and came back to sit.
03/31/2014 by JTucker
3/31/14: Female remains on nest, sitting upright. Male comes and goes.
4/2/14: Second male drops by next while other gone. Suddenly mate male appears and chases off the second male visitor.
11/25/2013 by JTucker
11/25/2013 by JTucker (edit)
Nest gone from chimney. Poop nearly all gone. Storm? Human removal?
08/31/2013 by JTucker
August 10/17/24/31: Observed on Saturdays from deck above resort pool overlooking the James River (no binoculars): 3 osprey fly in and out of a nest on a chimney on one of the guest quarter buildings. White poop all over green roof. ;) They are only a 100 yards from the water, so convenient for bringing a fish home to the dining room table. This nest was not there last year! Could it be the couple from the cell tower relocated to waterfront property?
9/7/13: two osprey observed on chimney nest
9/14/13: no osprey observed, but nest still there If any nests on chimneys appear in 2014, a new nest site will be reported. Stay tuned!
by JTucker
3/5/20 pair on nest (see photo)
3/19/20 pair on nest
4/2/20 2 on nest, 1 flew around over water (no diving)
4/13/20 one head visible
4/14/20 saw nothing
4/21/20 1 on side of nest, flew around 10 minutes, back to side of next (could not see head in nest)
4/24/20 1 upright on side of nest
4/25/20 saw no one
4/28/20 1 on side of nest
4/29/20 2 sitting on side, 1 brown other black but back turned (binoculars)
4/30/20 3 flying/drifting in 16 MPH wind, 2 staying together, 1 off ahead. Not fishing, water choppy
5/4/20 3 flying down by river cottages (during exercise class)
5/7/20 no one on nest
5/8/20 head visible in nest. Red Hawk down river where Osprey usually flying.
5/9/20 no one on nest
5/11/20 no one on nest
5/12/20 1 on side of nest
5/13/20 1 on side of nest (black neck but brownish color)
5/16/20 1 on side of nest
5/22/20 2 on side of nest
5/24/20 2 on side of nest (see photo facing left)
5/27/20 looks like male sitting on side of nest and female eating, but not feeding
5/29/20 1 on side of nest
6/1/20 1 on side of nest
6/3/20 1 on side of nest
6/5/20 1 on side of nest
6/19/20 3 on side of nest (see photo)
6/20/20 dad demonstrates flying to chick while mom sits on nest
6/25/20 chick fledged. Empty nest, chick flew to another building. 4 adults flying overhead
6/27/20 diving for fish unsuccessfully
7/5/20 diving for fish unsuccessfully, sometimes 2 Osprey
7/11/20 diving for fish unsuccessfully
7/18/20 diving for fish unsuccessfully, sometimes 2 Osprey
7/25/20 no one at nest or down at marina
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker
03/15/19 Partial nest
03/22/19 Full nest
03/29/19 Male on nest
04/02/19 No bird
04/09/19 No bird
04/16/19 No bird
04/23/19 Osprey flying over water
by JTucker
by JTucker
by JTucker