Nesting Diaries
Visited for the first time this year. For some reason, the platform on the channel marker has been dismanted.
Nest is empty. Chicks have fledged.
Observed for a while this a.m. I could see the female and 1 large chick on the nest. The male was perched in a tree along the shore and was vocalizing.
Observed the nest for a while this a.m. Finally observed the male deliver a small fish, which the female proceeded to feed to 2(?) small and almost hidden nestlings.
Female was on the channel marker nest and was vocalizing when I arrived around 11 am. Pretty soon the male arrived carrying a large stick. He proceeded to fly past her and deposited the stick on top of a nearby crane. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but I've observed similar behavior before.
Got there around 9 am. Bingo. I no sooner arrived than I heard the female vocalize. She was on the nest. Her mate was flying towards her with several large sticks. He arrived, arranged a few of the sticks that were there, and they settled in.
No sign of anything on or around nest. There were Ospreys around, but most likely associated with the communication tower nest. Juveniles have fledged. In all likelihood they fledged toward end of July.
One juv. on nest. No sign of second. I'd be willing to bet that both juvs. have fledged. See second photo, first row.
Observed briefly. Heard Ospreys, but didn't see any.
Observed adult and 1 of the juveniles in the nest. The juvenile is big. Not sure if juveniles have fledged yet. Latest photo is 2nd photo. Unfortunately, one can't arrange the photos in order.
I've been wrong all along. There are 2 chicks in the nest! I just couldn't see them. Eggs probably WERE laid in mid-April. Today I observed 1 nestling, but the adult female clearly fed a second that wasn't visible. I observed the adult female feeding both. The male was there a well on the channel marker light. Please see latest photo.
Female still incubating. It's getting late! I'm probably wrong re: when eggs were laid. They were likely laid later than mid-April and more like mid-May.
Observed late am. Two Ospreys on nest. I believe the female is still incubating.
Observed in am. Since I was here last the pair (though most likely the male) has added more nesting material including what looks like part of a white bed sheet!
Female in large nest. My guess; she's still incubating. Here's another guess: eggs were laid somewhere around mid-April. So hatchlings should arrive toward the end of May or beginning of June.
Female hunkered down in nest and male close by on a limb. The female is likely incubating.
Observed early pm. One Osprey on and around nest. Nest is still not large. No sign of incubating.
Both adults on nest, and again chasing off Brown Pelicans. Nest noticeably larger. No sign of incubating.
Observed nest late am. Two Ospreys on nest. Not much to this nest yet. When the nest was vacated, it was briefly taken over by a pair of cormorants. They were later chased off. Observed Osprey attack pelican that was close to nest.
Single Osprey on nest and on marker. Some vocalizing. Nesting material on platform. Two Bald Eagles (adult and juv.) in vicinity, and some tussling observed.
Two chicks 6 weeks old. Adult female present.