Nickname
Northwest End of the Chickahominy Bridge
Coordinates
(37.264, -76.8757)
Substrate
bridge strut
Description
on the northwest end of the bridge....just a pinch away from the nesting pair on the Southwest end
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 - SuzanneS | 2023 - Jamie | 2022 - SuzanneS | 2021 - SuzanneS | 2020 - SuzanneS | 2019 - jude | 2018 - jude | 2018 - Herbie | 2017 - jude | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/10/23 | 3/20/22 | 3/7/21 | 3/12/20 | 3/28/19 | 3/21/18 | 3/20/18 | 4/1/17 | |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| aActive | |||||||||
| bEgg Laying | 3/30/23 | 4/5/22 | 3/29/21 | 3/30/20 | 4/7/19 | 4/18/18 | 5/7/18 | 4/27/17 | |
| bIncubation Initiation | 3/30/23 | 4/5/22 | 3/29/21 | 3/30/20 | 4/7/19 | 4/27/17 | |||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/6/21 | 5/8/20 | 5/13/19 | 5/31/18 | |||||
| dNestlings | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| eFledglings | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 6/25/23 | 6/29/20 | 7/22/19 | ||||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 8/14/21 | 7/7/18 | |||||||
| xNest Failure | 5/15/22 | 7/18/17 | |||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure | adult abandonment |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Activity reports
2017 Nest Activity Report by jude
| Adult arrival | 04/01/2017 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/27/2017 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/27/2017 | Nest failure | 07/18/2017 |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | adult abandonment |
2018 Nest Activity Report by jude
| Adult arrival | 03/21/2018 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/18/2018 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 05/31/2018 | Reason for nest failure |
2018 Nest Activity Report by Herbie
| Adult arrival | 03/20/2018 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 05/07/2018 | Chicks last observed | 07/07/2018 |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2019 Nest Activity Report by jude
| Adult arrival | 03/28/2019 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/22/2019 | |
| Egg laying | 04/07/2019 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/07/2019 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/13/2019 | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by SuzanneS
| Adult arrival | 03/12/2020 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/29/2020 | |
| Egg laying | 03/30/2020 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 03/30/2020 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/08/2020 | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by SuzanneS
| Adult arrival | 03/07/2021 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 03/29/2021 | Chicks last observed | 08/14/2021 |
| Incubation initiation | 03/29/2021 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/06/2021 | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by SuzanneS
| Adult arrival | 03/20/2022 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/05/2022 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/05/2022 | Nest failure | 05/15/2022 |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2023 Nest Activity Report by SuzanneS
| Adult arrival | 03/10/2023 | Nestlings | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 03/30/2023 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 03/30/2023 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2023 Nest Activity Report by Jamie
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Fledglings | 3 | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/25/2023 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
08/06/2023 by Jamie
One adult up on the bridge and one juvenile near the nest. No sign of the others.
07/02/2023 by Jamie
I paddled by this nest today. Observed 3 chicks and 1 adult. 2 of the chicks are able to fly.
06/23/2023 by SuzanneS
All three chicks continue to thrive. I just noticed that the female and male adults of this nest have been tagged. Unfortunately, I won't be able to monitor this nest for the next three weeks.
05/31/2023 by SuzanneS
This nest is down to three chicks from the four that hatched. The remaining three are about the same size and look to be doing well. See photo from today.
05/11/2023 by SuzanneS
I'm not sure what date the first chick hatched, but all four eggs had since I last checked on the nest six days ago. See photo of four nestlings.
03/30/2023 by SuzanneS
This nest has two eggs as at March 30, 2023, so clearly the first egg was laid a couple of days prior to today.
03/10/2023 by SuzanneS
I saw only the female on the nest, so I am not certain the male has arrived, yet.
05/15/2022 by SuzanneS
When I last checked on this nest, it ad three eggs and all three were being incubated. I checked on this nest today. All three eggs are gone. The three chicks that had hatched in the nest on the opposite side of the bridge where this nest lies also are gone.
04/05/2022 by SuzanneS
Today I saw the first egg in this nest. I last checked April 1, so it could have been paid after that date and before today.
03/25/2022 by SuzanneS
I had a difficult time verifying whether the male had arrived, because two of the three times I observed the nest, I didn't see the male. However, on March 20, I observed the male fending off two other ospreys that kept trying to take the nest (which was empty at the the time; the female was nearby). I think the two ospreys were from a nearby tree that had previously harbored their own nest. The tree still stands, but very little of their nest remains. The male successfully fended them off, because when I returned to the nest on March 23, the male and the female were in the nest doing what they are supposed to do. The other two ospreys were in or near their tree/former nest, likely trying to figure out what to do.
03/22/2022 by SuzanneS
Not sure what's happening with this nest. I have seen the female on several different occasions. It appears though that 3-4 ospreys are trying to occupy this nest. Each time what I think is a male osprey tries to land in the empty nest, it has to leave immediately to chase away 2 other ospreys.
07/22/2021 by SuzanneS
I visited this nest on July 22 and saw both fledglings in the nest. I didn't see the parents, but I cannot conclude they've left.
06/08/2021 by SuzanneS
Today I visited this nest, four days after my most recent visit. The youngest chick has died. Its feathered remains were still in the nest. Likely cause of death: malnutrition and pecking from the two older chicks. See photo.
06/03/2021 by SuzanneS
Visited nest on June 3. All three chicks present. Smallest is quite a bit smaller than the other two, but I watched the mother feed the smallest quite a bit of fish this morning, much to the dismay of one of the larger chicks, which tried to peck it, but the mother was in between the two chicks.
05/06/2021 by SuzanneS
Today I saw the first hatchling in this nest. Two unhatched eggs remain. Had checked this nest May 3 and no hatching.
04/11/2021 by SuzanneS
This nest still has has three eggs, as of today. This nest had three eggs two days ago. Last year, this nest had four eggs.
03/31/2021 by SuzanneS
The first day I saw and egg in the nest was March 29. I visited the nest again today (March 31) and now there are two eggs in the nest.
03/13/2021 by SuzanneS
On March 13 both the male and female ospreys were in the nest; this was the first date I was able to confirm both had returned.
06/30/2020 by SuzanneS
I'm pretty sure I witnessed the native voyage of one of the young ospreys, because I watched it hover over the nest twice, and return to nest after hovering, and then on the third attempt after hovering it flew forward, made a large circle, and returned to the nest. The mother called out the entire time-my assumption is 'words' of encouragement. Great to see.
06/29/2020 by SuzanneS
The older of the two chicks will be fledging soon. It is practicing ‘jump flying’ and it’s landings remain awkward. Yesterday it achieved about six inches of elevation. See the photo I added today. The younger chick also practices flying by flapping its wings, but does not yet achieve as much height.
06/29/2020 by SuzanneS
One of the young ospreys fledged this morning! The other is close behind. See photos of the fledging.
05/16/2020 by SuzanneS
Yesterday I checked on this nest. A chick has been lost. This nest now has only two chicks. See photo.
05/08/2020 by SuzanneS
The male (presumably) had brought a fish to nest for the female while hatching was under way. He eventually removed the fish and finished it nearby. The female continued attending to the hatching. She gave me one good look of the new chick. See photos.
04/03/2020 by SuzanneS
Another person, Judy, contacted me and said she observed the nesting pair on March 12. I have changed the report accordingly. And new news! This nest now has two eggs!
04/01/2020 by jude
Noticed the egg this morning and saw on the activity report that Suzanne first saw this one on the 30th of March. I can't edit her report but I first saw both Osprey on the nesting site on March 12th, not quite a week before the adult arrival noted here.
Our team (HRC bluebird trail at the Chick) has been monitoring this nest for about four years but haven't been this spring due to cancelling of the program. So, keep up the good work, Suzanne.
03/17/2020 by SuzanneS
I am not certain this report is for this next, as there are three separate nest reports. I observed only one osprey, not two, so perhaps I should not have filed this report? Will attach photos.
08/23/2019 by jude
Female hasn't been seen in a while. The male and the chicks are in the area but haven't been back to the nest at the times I've gone to observe. Unsure if they've left the nest for keeps or just return at dusk.
05/13/2019 by jude
On 5-12, all was well. On 5-13, this third egg was on the far side of the nest, alone and unloved.
However, when I returned on 5-16, the egg was not in evidence. Pushed off or back under the female...I wasn't sure.
05/12/2019 by jude
Both adults are near the nest at all times. There are three eggs and we should see some hatching soon.
04/08/2019 by jude
This pair is on a bridge strut, returning to the same nest they used last year. It is very shallow and much of the nest uses the concrete from the bridge as a base. The pair arrived quite late, not till nearly the end of March, and spent little time updating and repairing the nest. Almost immediately (within 10 days), the female appears to be sitting on an egg. She is low in the nest, stands briefly, and then resumes sitting. We'll know more when we are able to kayak out and check.
03/18/2019 by jude
No sightings yet of the pair that nested here last year. However, they arrived late in 2018 and still fledged two young, so we're not giving up hope yet!
07/22/2018 by jude
No fledging yet but it won't be long....the parents are returning with fewer and fewer bits of fish. The two chicks squabble over the food like typical teenagers but will no doubt soon be airborne.
06/04/2018 by jude
Two chicks...one very active, larger, and obviously older. The other very newly hatched...not eating much. Hopefully, as the days pass, he'll be able to grab some food from sibling and chow down.
04/07/2018 by jude
Still monitoring and hoping that she'll begin to incubate. One there most of the time, standing beside the nest.
03/24/2018 by jude
Still only one osprey on the nest at a time. Because of the distance, it's hard to tell if it's a pair taking turns or the same osprey over and over. Will keep watching to see if both return.
06/21/2017 by jude
I checked the Chic. Bridge today and the there is still one more egg in the nest, but Mom is
Not sitting on the egg. She is in the nest but off to the side.
06/20/2017 by jude
We are very concerned about this nest. There was a female and two eggs their on June 16th, but no adult and only one egg there on June 19. Our fear is that this nest may have been abandoned.....will keep monitoring closely over the next few days.
04/29/2017 by jude
She is definitely incubating eggs. Went out in a canoe to ensure that we were seeing 'incubating behavior' and confirmed eggs in the nest.