Nickname
Reedy 1
Coordinates
(38.9431, -76.2138)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Description
This nest platform is located in Prospect Bay near Cabin Creek Rd. on the Reedy property. It has been in place since 2011and has been used each year, and occupied in 2014. The pair produced young successfully each year.
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
| 2016 - CBEC | 2015 - CBEC | 2014 - CBEC | 2013 - CBEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/10/16 | 3/25/15 | 3/13/14 | |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| aActive | ||||
| bEgg Laying | 5/10/16 | |||
| bIncubation Initiation | ||||
| cClutch Hatching | 6/13/16 | |||
| dNestlings | 2 | |||
| eFledglings | ||||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | ||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 6/19/15 | |||
| xNest Failure | ||||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2016 2015 2014 2013
Activity reports
2014 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
| Adult arrival | 03/13/2014 | 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 |
2013 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
| 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 |
2015 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
| Adult arrival | 03/25/2015 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 06/19/2015 | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2016 Nest Activity Report by CBEC
| Adult arrival | 03/10/2016 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 05/10/2016 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 06/13/2016 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
07/25/2016 by CBEC
I've benn watching the nest several times a week.... Have seen both male and female, seen female feeding once or twice but no sign of a chick fledgling yet... Hoping to see soon. It seems all nests in sees are late.
06/13/2016 by CBEC
It has been a month since my last login but I have been observing nest consistently without much change. Both male and female would be present on and off, only once did it seems she or he was brooding - the nest was often left uncovered even as each sat on a perch.
After a couple weeks away I returned to observe and female was there but not on nest. Then the eagle came swooping down, chasing her away, she flew back and the eagle departed after swooping down close to nest and then water. The male came soon after with food, but the eagle returned, again swooping and leaving. Then the female looked to be pulling apart food and perhaps feeding newly hatched chick or two. This was so exciting to see as I wasn't sure we had a successful nest. It seems there are chicks!
05/11/2016 by CBEC
Have been watching nest and pair every few days for indication there has been egg laying, but nothing... Until today. In the rain, Female was sitting center in the nest when I arrived. She noticed me and began chirping, moving slightly but not leaving center of nest. After about 15 minutes she moved to back of nest and male flew in to center nest to deliver a fish. She took and flew to a nearby branch to eat. Male adjusted but stayed on center, extending his wings and settling down. After 5 or 10 minutes I drove away and turned around. He has moved to,perch of platform as she overlooked from tree while eating her fish. I'm fairly certain there is an egg or two on nest and would have been laid yesterday.
04/25/2016 by CBEC
Female was on the nest when I arrived. After about 15 minutes I saw the male fly over then go off and swoop down to water and grab a fish in his talons. He soon flew to the nest and shared the food with the female. Posted photos.
04/20/2016 by CBEC
Pair were on the nest when I arrived to observe. They soon took off, but I spotted them watching over the nest from a tree. Six photos posted.
04/18/2016 by CBEC
Lots going on this morning. Female on nest, male came in. Both still seem to be fixing nest up, female seemed to raise her tail, male spread his wings and flew above landing on her back, then sat beside again. A third osprey came and dove at them in nest. A turkey vulture flew overhead ... After a few the male left but came back with a twig I believe. They were both on nest when I left with other osprey and turkey vulture flying around. Hated to go - so enthralling. I'm guessing there may be an egg or two in nest... Hope to be able to view.
04/17/2016 by CBEC
Male was on nest, female flew in and set beside him. He soon flew above and came down on top of her - not sure if it was for copulation. Perhaps eggs have been laid based on posture I've seen. Hope to find a way to view nest from above.
04/15/2016 by
Observed nest around 5:30pm. Female was sitting there chirping away and constantly looking around for the male. I soon saw the male soar above and go sit nearby on a tree branch and enjoy his catch - a long silver fish. When he finished he came and perched next to female. After her continued chirping he flew down toward water out of site. The female soon followed. A short time later the female was back on nest drying her wings and the mane was perched in trees preening as well. It seems they took a quick bath.
04/15/2016 by
Observed nest around 5:30pm. Female was chirping away and looking around for the male.
04/15/2016 by
Observed nest around 5:30pm. Female was sitting there chirping away and constantly looking around for the male. I soon saw the male soar above and go sit nearby on a tree branch and enjoy his catch - a long silver fish. When he finished he came and perched next to female. After her continued chirping he flew down toward water out of site. The female soon followed. A short time later the female was back on nest drying her wings and the mane was perched in trees preening as well. It seems they took a quick bath.
04/15/2016 by
Observed nest around 5:30pm. Female was sitting there chirping away and constantly looking around for the male. I soon saw the male soar above and go sit nearby on a tree branch and enjoy his catch - a long silver fish. When he finished he came and perched next to female. After her continued chirping he flew down toward water out of site. The female soon followed. A short time later the female was back on nest drying her wings and the mane was perched in trees preening as well. It seems they took a quick bath.
04/13/2016 by CBEC
Went back at the 3 and the female was setting on nest, which had more material added, chirping away nonstop and lifting her wing. After 5 minutes or so, the male swooped in from behind. The female lifted her tail and he sat atop her for a few seconds, then sat by her side. He stayed a few minutes and flew off. The female seemed to make some nest adjustments, again raising each wing for a few seconds as if airing out.
04/13/2016 by CBEC
Stopped by to do quick observation this morning. Both male and female are perched on nest which looks a little more full.. No activity between them.
04/12/2016 by CBEC
Observed Female late afternoon perched on platform eating fish while the male was flying overhead. Have not seen any copulation behavior.
04/11/2016 by CBEC
Observed nest last few days but saw no activity until morning of April 11. Due to more high winds the nest had lost volume, but both male and female were perched on platform in the morning. Returned in evening and nest was much fuller - they had clearly worked all day. Female was there still working.
04/06/2016 by CBEC
Observed yesterday and the nest had no twigs and no osprey when I first checked. Assume the strong 50mph winds the two days before destroyed original nest. One osprey came and sat for a short while and left. Today many twigs added and nest looked much better. Winds were strong but female osprey was there perched on edge.
06/23/2015 by CBEC
Saw one small head sticking up but no adult birds. Perhaps it was the adult just peeking out a little??
05/27/2015 by CBEC
One bird was on the nest. Seemed to be sitting on eggs but could not see for sure.
05/08/2015 by CBEC
I visited the nest on April 29 and again today. Last week both birds were gone but one came back after about 15 minutes. Today neither birds were there (I observed for about 20 minutes)
04/24/2015 by CBEC
On Friday both birds were there. They were sitting very close but I could not tell if they were copulating.
04/21/2015 by CBEC
I have observed the nest on three separate days over the last week. The first day there was one bird who just sat on the edge of the nest preening a bit and looking around. The second bird came for a few minutes but there was no interaction between the two of them.
The second day, April 20, I observed for about 45 minutes but neither of the birds appeared. Today, after half an hour with neither of the birds present, one arrived. It seemed to be arranging the nest which was a change as the other times I observed it it did not show any interest in the nest, nor did either bird bring any sticks to supplement their quite meager home.
04/20/2014 by CBEC
This nest is interesting in that it is located within osprey eyes of CBEC 1 nest. In 2013 CBEC 1 nest lost all three chicks (approximately 8 weeks old) and nest substrate in a violent wind storm. Whereas, the Reedy 1 nest remained unscathed, and the young fledged successfully. Interesting natural happenings!