Nickname
CBEC 1
Coordinates
(38.9447, -76.2179)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Description
Nest is located along the shoreline of the residence at 146 Wanuga Lane, Grasonville, MD. 21638. (Prospect Bay) The nest platform was affixed in March 2014. The previously used platform was destroyed over winter.
Followers
None
What to look for
Review All Observations
2016 - CBEC2015 - CBEC2014 - CBEC
aAdult Arrival3/21/164/1/153/15/14
aOccupiedYesYesYes
aActive
bEgg Laying4/23/154/30/14
bIncubation Initiation4/26/155/1/14
cClutch Hatching5/27/15
dNestlings3
eFledglings0
eFirst Chick Fledging
fChicks Last Observed7/14/15
xNest Failure7/14/15
xReason For Nest Failureother

Select Seasons

Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2016 2015 2014

Activity reports

2014 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
Adult arrival03/15/2014Nestlings
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg laying04/30/2014Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation05/01/2014Nest failure
Clutch hatchingReason for nest failure
2016 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
Adult arrival03/21/2016Nestlings
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg layingChicks last observed
Incubation initiationNest failure
Clutch hatchingReason for nest failure
2015 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
Adult arrival04/01/2015Nestlings3
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings0
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg laying04/23/2015Chicks last observed07/14/2015
Incubation initiation04/26/2015Nest failure07/14/2015
Clutch hatching05/27/2015Reason for nest failurenestlings predated by GHO during night of June 24, 2015

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

07/15/2015 by CBEC
On 07/14/15 I was observing osprey chicks getting ready to leave the nest for a first flight. All 3 birds were flapping up 8-10' above the nest and coming down for a soft landing. Discussing the behavior w/interns. Last observed the chicks @ approximately 8:30 pm when they all settled down in the nest. The next morning I checked to see if any fledged early, and found all 3 in the same positions as the night before, and didn't notice breathing. (using scope). Parents were not at the nest. One of the nestlings appeared draped over the nest edge. At closer inspection all 3 birds were dead (beheaded and 1 partially eaten); work of a GHO. Later that date the deceased nestings were removed from the nest platform. The female was attentive at the nest for approximately 3 days after predation episode, and then left the area. The 15th was a sad day for our daily osprey watching.

07/07/2015 by CBEC
Incubation period ended May 31, 2015 with the last hatching of the 3rd chick. The female brooded the young for 6 days, and then accompanied the male in hunting. Both parents were diligent in the shading and feeding of the young. The male continued to bring sticks and/or grasses to the nest on a daily basis and continues to do so to the present day. There have been several storms with high winds and the female covers the nestlings during heavy rain and winds including the present day whereby the young are too big to be fully covered by her. About a week ago during a particularly violent thunderstorm/winds both parent birds were covering the nestlings. As of July 4th the nestlings started feeding on their own when fish were brought to the nest, although the female continues to feed them periodically. July 5th the oldest of the nestlings began the "exercising of the wings" flapping until it loses its balance and falls into the nest. Development of the nestlings is on schedule. Both parents roost on the nest platform for the night with the male returning around 8:00 pm.

05/03/2015 by CBEC
During the past several days the male has made many trips from marsh to nest with a "talon full of soft nesting material." On May 01 between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, the male returned to the nest 8 times with soft nesting material (grasses, leaves, grass w/mud chunks, phag heads, etc.) He would deposit the material, and the female would immediately (from the incubating position) work the material into the nest cup edge surrounding her position. Today at 11:23 am, the male brought a medium sized stick to the nest, but he was responsible for placing it in the perimeter of the nest. The female is focused on the incubation process. I am estimating that hatching will occur on or around May 31st (since the range of the incubation period is 35-46 days).

04/29/2015 by CBEC
During the past week it was observed that the female produced two eggs; 1 on April 23 and 1 on April 25. Incubation began immediately on April 26. I have not observed the male sharing incubation duties, nor bringing food to the female. I have observed the female "rolling" eggs. The male perches in a nearby pine tree during the day, but returns to the nest approximately 5:00 pm and remains on the nest platform overnight. Since there are eagles in the same area, the male is on a 'frequent fly' rushing the eagles out of the area. Except for 'keeping the eagles moving' away from the nest area, no other conflict was noticed. The female while incubating frequently makes small adjustments to the nest cup, "fine tuning." On April 28 I noticed the male bringing two small sticks to the nest platform. She immediately started tucking the sticks into the perimeter while incubating.

04/19/2015 by CBEC
04/19/15 Except for two rainy days between 04/14/19 and 04/19/15 the primary behavior exemplified was "the molding of the nest cup" with meticulous attention to detail. The female has been spending several hours a day in the Incubating position, although there are no eggs at this point. I have noticed she is sitting in several body orientations making sure the nest cup and adjacent sticks are properly positioned for insulation and drainage in anticipation of egg-laying. If sticks/nesting material are not to her liking, she will spend time/patience rearranging the materials, and then repeat the sitting for some time. The male is still bringing large sticks for the perimeter of the nest. I noticed on 04/16/15, the male brought a plastic bag to the nest, and finally after it was moved around the nest in several locations, the bag was blown off the nest, and never to be thought of again. So nest building/cup molding continues.

04/14/2015 by CBEC
04/14/2015 During the week of April 6-12 the days were dismal w/four days being rainy and misty. Most of the activity of the birds focused on staying dry, but with bringing nesting material everyday. They were 'half-hearted' in this attempt, because of the intermittent downpours. Nest is being constructed, and the female spends a lot of time working on the "cup". The female is ever present, whereas, the male retreats to a nearby loblolly pine for a drier location.

04/05/2015 by CBEC
For the past few days since the male arrived, both birds were busy bringing sticks to the nest. During the observations, the female bathes off a little island within 100 yards of the nest. It's interesting in that she will walk in the water until her body is half-way submerged, and then proceeds to bathe. The male is busy gathering nesting material bringing back twice as many sticks as the female. Much of the material is loblolly pine including many pine cones still affixed to the branches. The female is intent on rearranging the sticks brought to the nest. She is very meticulous in arranging and rearranging the substrate. In the course of the past few days, mating was observed approximately 10 times. I have observed the male bring a small piece of fish to the female, and have observed the female on another occasion bring a large gizzard shad to eat to the nest platform. This pair is nesting on a new nest platform erected March 15th (same location). The winter ice bent the pole, and the nest was on a slant. A piling w/nest on top was placed in the same location, so coordinates have not changed. This nest is within 25 yards of my house, and I have a scope zeroed in on it 24/7. Unless something dynamic occurs when observing, I will record "happenings" once a week (Sunday).

04/20/2014 by CBEC
This pair nested in the area for the past three years. In 2013 they had 3 chicks which were lost in a violent wind/rain storm. The nest and chicks were swept into the Bay. Over winter the nest pole/platform was lost due to icing and wind. A new platform was erected in 2014 approximately 25 yds. closer to the shore. When the birds returned, they immediately started to build a new nest on the platform.