Nickname
Rivers Edge 3
Coordinates
(37.2219, -76.6579)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Description
Platform built in James River on substrate
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 - Rivers Edge | 2022 - Rivers Edge | 2021 - Rivers Edge | 2020 - Rivers Edge | 2019 - Rivers Edge | 2018 - Rivers Edge | 2017 - Rivers Edge | 2016 - Rivers Edge | 2015 - Rivers Edge | 2014 - Rivers Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/7/23 | 3/25/22 | 3/15/21 | 3/18/20 | 3/12/19 | 3/10/18 | 3/20/17 | 3/8/16 | 3/13/15 | 3/16/14 |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| aActive | ||||||||||
| bEgg Laying | ||||||||||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/8/23 | 4/24/20 | 4/9/17 | 4/6/16 | 4/4/15 | 4/27/14 | ||||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/26/20 | 5/18/17 | 5/13/16 | 5/1/15 | ||||||
| dNestlings | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| eFledglings | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 7/19/21 | 7/12/20 | 6/23/19 | |||||||
| fChicks Last Observed | ||||||||||
| xNest Failure | 6/1/22 | |||||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure | nest destroyed during storm |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Activity reports
2014 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/16/2014 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/27/2014 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2015 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/13/2015 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/04/2015 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/01/2015 | Reason for nest failure |
2016 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/08/2016 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/06/2016 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/13/2016 | Reason for nest failure |
2017 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/20/2017 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/09/2017 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/18/2017 | Reason for nest failure |
2018 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/10/2018 | 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 |
2019 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/12/2019 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/23/2019 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/18/2020 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/12/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/24/2020 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/26/2020 | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/15/2021 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/19/2021 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/25/2022 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | 06/01/2022 | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | nest destroyed during storm |
Nest Activity Report by Rivers Edge
| Adult arrival | 03/07/2023 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/08/2023 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
05/23/2023 by Rivers Edge
There have been several severe storms on the River. Today there was one osprey on the edge of the platform but no sign of the incubating adult.
05/06/2023 by Rivers Edge
Pair continuing to maintain their nest. Female seems to still be incubating but probably not chicks as both birds leave for extended time.
04/08/2023 by Rivers Edge
Today was able to take a photo of the female incubating eggs. Because of the very high tide I took the photo from Buntings backyard where I was able to look down into the new nest box that Bob, Roger, and I installed. Eggs for Easter...nice!!
03/23/2023 by Rivers Edge
I have been watching tis nesting pair every 3-4 days. Progress at first was minimal but now is increasing. It appears that the new platform is working well and the osprey have accepted the change.
03/12/2023 by Rivers Edge
After the platform was destroyed by a storm last year, with help from two others, we rebuilt the platform after the osprey had left. The pair have now returned to the new built platform. We hope to see nest building soon.
07/09/2022 by Rivers Edge
I have monitored this nest weekly as the pair stayed at the site and repeatedly tried to rebuild the nest. However, every time the branches they had brought soon fell in the river. I am looking for someone with a boat to help me rebuild the platform.
06/01/2022 by Rivers Edge
I have monitored this nest weekly. It has been extremely windy and stormy weather all of April and May. This pair rebuilt their partial nests many times only to have it blown away again and again. The platform needs to be rebuilt but a boat is required.
03/29/2022 by Rivers Edge
I monitored yesterday to see if the beginning nest had blown away in the high wind. The pair are still on the broken platform but at least half of the nest has blown away.
03/25/2022 by Rivers Edge
I have observed two osprey returning to the platform frequently. They have begun an attempt to build on the mostly destroyed platform and seem to be making some progress today. The weekend will be windy so I hope their nest holds.
03/07/2022 by Rivers Edge
Today there is no activity on the platform which is mostly destroyed. However, this did not stop them last year. Many osprey in the air but who knows what nests they belong to. Nest up the river is occupied and a pair on that platform.
07/14/2021 by Rivers Edge
On 7/12 I walked to the river and observed that the chicks from a nearby nest had fledged. The water was high and I was unable to walk to this nest. That evening I went to a parking lot and was able to observe that there were still osprey on the platform of this nest. On 7/14 I went to the river very early while the tide was low so I could walk to the nest. The two very large juveniles were on the platform. A parent flew overhead constantly keeping other osprey and a juvenile eagle away. The chicks were constantly calling for food. Finally the parent landed for a while but did not bring food. These two seem very ready to fledge.
06/30/2021 by Rivers Edge
Today saw one large chick with Mom on nest. When I uploaded photos I saw a second chick...peek a boo chick, I see your eye so I know you are there.
05/27/2021 by Rivers Edge
I have observed this nest on a regular basis as the tide has permitted. Activity has been delayed due to the platform being blown away. It has been impressive that the osprey brought in very large branches to build a secure base for the nest. They then built on top of that base and the nest has weathered several wind storms. Today I observed the female sheltering the nest with her wing...probably chicks. Dad was on the rocks below with a large fish.
03/09/2021 by Rivers Edge
On Feb 25, 2021, I checked for osprey return. At that date I observed that the platform for this nest is gone (see photo) I wonder if it was removed as it is somewhat close to the marina. There is another platform between the missing one and Rivers Edge 2 , however, no osprey have ever liked it. There was one male hanging out there. Over the next two weeks I checked for activity. This second male seemed to be skirmishing with the male from Rivers Edge 2 but on 3/9 was not around. I did see an osprey on a cone far out in the river....perhaps him??
07/24/2020 by Rivers Edge
checked to see if osprey still in area...although not on nest some near by so will not say last observed.
07/12/2020 by Rivers Edge
Today when I first arrived near the nest, the parent and large hatchling were eating. Three kayakers came close and both parent and hatchling flew off. Fledgling is a very strong flyer and flew over head for 3-5 minutes before landing in a tree.
07/08/2020 by Rivers Edge
Finally got a great view of this nest...Chick not hiding..both parents were on the nest and the chick was eating. The parents left when they saw me but the chick kept eating and then started flapping its wings.
06/30/2020 by Rivers Edge
I have observed this nest 3 times...photo of only one chick who is getting large but I have not seen wing flapping.
06/24/2020 by Rivers Edge
I think there are 2 chicks after watching numerous times...still not able to get a good photo to confirm.
06/13/2020 by Rivers Edge
Today I got a good look at one chick. Dad sat with a fish below nest on rocks but parents are very cautious and after 20 minutes he flew away with the fish. Will continue to try to sneak up to see if more than one chick.
06/06/2020 by Rivers Edge
Today was able to see one chick fairly well after waiting a long time...I think I saw some movement on the other side of the nest so may be two chicks...need to continue to monitor.
05/31/2020 by Rivers Edge
I was about ready to give up on this nest and think it failed but I sat for about 30 minutes and suddenly a tiny little head popped up.
05/23/2020 by Rivers Edge
still not able to see any chicks...no feeding observed while there but at one point saw female carefully settling down on either chicks or eggs...suspect chicks.
05/15/2020 by Rivers Edge
Although the male brought a large fish to the female on the nest, there did not seem to be any feeding behavior. There were people in the area so perhaps that stopped the feeding. Female did not seem to be incubating at this time as sitting much higher so probably hatchlings who are too small to see.
04/24/2020 by Rivers Edge
Today both male and female were at the nest...the female is incubating while the male stands close by.
03/29/2020 by Rivers Edge
Today I was able to see two osprey on the nest. Foggy and observed from a distance. On the 18th I did not see a pair but now have been told by another watchers that she saw at least one before the 18th. Return date is an estimate.
03/18/2020 by Rivers Edge
This location seems to be abandoned at this time. Many osprey flying overhead.
06/30/2019 by Rivers Edge
It has been hard to observe this nest due to the river being high and only able to observe through the scope at a distance. By 6/30 two had fledged and were on the rocks near by. One other fledgling was with Mom on the nest but as boats cam by they would fly from the nest and then both would return. I did not see any feeding.
05/20/2019 by Rivers Edge
Last year during a hurricane a tree made it impossible to access the path to the river to monitor the nest. A new trail is now making the river accessible. Today I saw one, possible two chicks being fed by both parents.
03/29/2018 by Rivers Edge
Saw nest building on March 10. On March 27 both osprey were on the platform. The male flew off and sat in a near-by tree. Both brought in a few sticks to add to the nest.
07/09/2017 by Rivers Edge
Fought my way through the brush along the river to get a closer view of this nest. Two birds on nest, one obviously a hatchling. The other one immediately flew off and I never got a good view of wings to determine age but probably is an adult based on behavior. Appears to be only one chick from this nest.
06/17/2017 by Rivers Edge
Monitored yesterday...was able to walk beach to get closer to nest...confirmed one chick for sure..perhaps two
05/25/2017 by Rivers Edge
Observed from a distance that incubation had ceased on 5/18. On this date, due to four days of heavy rain, the beach along the nest was not accessible. My assumption is hatching around the 15th of May. Will continue to monitor
04/28/2017 by Rivers Edge
Lots of rain and river very high...sandy beach under water...I waded close enough to see the nest via binoculars...incubation continues with the male sitting on the rocks under the nest site.
04/09/2017 by Rivers Edge
Female is incubating eggs and male is in area and continuing to bring sticks to a completed nest.
03/20/2017 by Rivers Edge
Although seven osprey have been in the area since the first week of March and one osprey has been observed on the platform off and on since that week, it wasn't until today that I was able to get a photo of both birds on the nest. The nest was destroyed by winter storms but at this time has been mostly rebuilt. Due to light and distance, the photo is not great.
06/03/2016 by Rivers Edge
This pair is doing very well..much less accessible from the shore so not disturbed as much as nest 743. At this time there appears to be two and maybe three strong chicks in the nest.
03/18/2016 by Rivers Edge
This pair has added to their nest and both male and female are together on the nest often.
05/20/2015 by Rivers Edge
Observed female on nest shading a large chick that was well feathered and stretching its little wings. after 30 minutes another little head appeared, a much younger chick that did not stand or stretch.
06/02/2014 by Rivers Edge
I have observed this nest on two ocassions..at this time it appears unsuccessful. Today the male was sitting on the edge of the nest. He flew away when he saw me even though I was some distance. After I left he returned and sat on the nest edge. He peered into the nest, and rearranged a stick and then left. There does not seem to be a female around at this time. I will continue to monitor for her.
05/11/2014 by Rivers Edge
I have observed this nest on 4/27 when the female was incubating, and on 5/11. On 5/11 the male was sitting on the edge of the nest and the female was very low in the nest. It is difficult to observe the female from any location on land. I will monitor this nest when I do my nearby nest and hope that with my spotting scope I will be able to determine when there are chicks in the nest.