Nest #5438

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Nest #5438

Nickname

emily gut

Coordinates

(38.601, -75.1694)

Substrate

Utility Pole

Description

on property adjoining 33339 mercer ave., millsboro, de., 19966 atop a utility pole

Followers

None

Monitoring groups

Delaware Fish and Wildlife

What to look for

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.

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.

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.

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 fly

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.

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.

Nest Failure

Look for signs of nest failure like adult abandonment, adults no longer incubating eggs or feeding young.

Previous Next

Review All Observations

	2023 - baygirl	2021 - baygirl	2017 - Snowbird	2016 - Snowbird	2015 - kc	2014 - kc
aAdult Arrival		4/8/21	3/31/17	3/20/16		3/20/15
aOccupied	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
aActive
bEgg Laying			4/16/17
bIncubation Initiation		4/30/21	4/16/17
cClutch Hatching		5/31/21	6/2/17
dNestlings		1	2
eFledglings			2
eFirst Chick Fledging			7/10/17
fChicks Last Observed			9/18/17
xNest Failure
xReason For Nest Failure		unknown reason

Select Seasons

Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2021 2017 2016 2015 2014

Activity reports

2015 Nest Activity Report by kc

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 kc

Adult arrival	03/20/2015	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

2016 Nest Activity Report by Snowbird

Adult arrival	03/20/2016	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

2017 Nest Activity Report by Snowbird

Adult arrival	03/31/2017	Nestlings	2
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings	2
Nest Active		First chick fledging	07/10/2017
Egg laying	04/16/2017	Chicks last observed	09/18/2017
Incubation initiation	04/16/2017	Nest failure
Clutch hatching	06/02/2017	Reason for nest failure

2021 Nest Activity Report by baygirl

Adult arrival	04/08/2021	Nestlings	1
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying		Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation	04/30/2021	Nest failure
Clutch hatching	05/31/2021	Reason for nest failure	unknown reason

Nest Activity Report by baygirl

Adult arrival		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

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

09/22/2023 by baygirl

platform placed on top of pole by power company in 2022, pair did not produce young this season but have a safe nest site-finally!

06/02/2021 by baygirl

feeding behavior observed

04/30/2021 by baygirl

2021 CIB State of the Bays active osprey nest survey-pair consistently at nest since 4-8,

10/08/2017 by Snowbird

In past years, the fledglings have stayed close to the nest and came back to the nest several times a day for feeding. This season, this occurred for about two weeks, then they did not return to the nest again. I would still see them on nearby docks and posts, but not on the nest.

10/08/2017 by Snowbird

for 2016 nest, one chick was displaced from the nest just as it was ready to fledge. It was not maintained by an adult for 24 hrs. We trans[ported it to Bird Rescue, and they reported it failed to thrive and died.

04/20/2017 by Snowbird

Osprey were late coming to this nest. This is not the same male that has been here in previous seasons, his habits are quite different

07/11/2016 by yingstma

Saw 2 fledglings and both parents on nest.

07/10/2016 by yingstma

03/20/2015 by kc

have watched this nest for previous years. 2013, 2 eggs, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling. 2014, 2 eggs, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings. Nest blew down at end of summer 2014. 3/20/2015 pair observed at former nest site. Observed bird bringing stick to re-start nest at same location. Observed one bird in tree 100 ft. from nesting site on 03/17/2015, calling for mate.