Nickname
SP Boat Launch
Coordinates
(32.1413, -80.7742)
Substrate
Live Tree
Description
The nest is at SP Preserve where the boats go out across the lagoon on the Alligator Tour.
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
| 2022 - CarolC | 2019 - CarolC | 2018 - CarolC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/1/19 | ||
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| aActive | |||
| bEgg Laying | |||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/3/19 | 4/24/18 | |
| cClutch Hatching | 5/12/19 | ||
| dNestlings | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| eFledglings | 2 | 1 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | |||
| fChicks Last Observed | |||
| xNest Failure | |||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Activity reports
2018 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/24/2018 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2019 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | 03/01/2019 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 04/03/2019 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/12/2019 | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
03/17/2023 by CarolC
John H reports: I saw the Osprey today!
On the lake much further from the boat launch area. (From the launch site follow the lake around to the right there is a bench at that location )
I could not determine where there was a nest.
03/16/2023 by CarolC
Pauline and Deb report: We knew the nests you were asking about but could not see anything today. One male seemed to be protecting the area on Lake Mary across from the dock for humans... not the boat dock.
03/16/2023 by CarolC
Mary Alice T reports: Checked on the nest today and as I was standing there trying to see something, the Osprey flew in with a fish and landed on a tree limb below the nest at 1:40pm. Hunkered down and ate fish and did not see any mate. I'm pretty sure this one will be active this year. 1 image posted
03/15/2023 by CarolC
Jack C reports: One osprey on the nest vocalizing a lot several others flying around.
03/15/2023 by CarolC
07/17/2022 by CarolC
Jack C reports: 7142 had two osprey on the nest. I am unsure if there were two juveniles or one juvenile and one adult.
07/14/2022 by CarolC
Mary Alice T reports:: Mom sitting up in nest with at least one chick clearly visible. I think I saw wings go up in the back, but couldn't tell for sure if it is another chick, an adult, or I was just seeing things! This nest is on Lake Thomas. 4 Photo
07/04/2022 by CarolC
Mary Alice T observed: Mom sitting up in nest. Did not see any chicks or any other movements. This nest is on Lake Thomas.
06/20/2022 by CarolC
Jack C reports: one osprey on the side of the nest looking in. The gator tour boat guide said he has only seen 1 juvenile but that someone told him they had seen two. I'll check it again soon.
06/15/2022 by CarolC
Jack C reports: one osprey on side of nest looking in another 20 yards away on tree.
06/12/2022 by CarolC
Jack C reports: Nest near gator boat, one adult on side of nest intermittently dropping head below side and into nest as if feeding. An adult in a tree about 30 yard away vocalizing.
NOTE: Based on feeding behavior of adult, we assume there is at least 1 nestling.
05/30/2022 by CarolC
Jack C reports: Two adults at nest but I couldn't see inside the nest it is obscured by pine branches. The gator boat guy says he hasn't seen a chick but he thinks they have one because they are in and out often.
05/29/2022 by CarolC
Mary Alice T reports: At nest by alligator tour boats... Mom flew out and had big stick upon her return - no sign of male...
05/26/2022 by CarolC
Mary Alice T reports: Mom sitting up in nest down low, but visible. While I was there an adult (not sure but most likely the male) flew in and brought her a fish. She did not appear to be feeding chicks. Then Male took rest of fish and landed on nearby limb to finish the fish. 4 photos attached. I zoomed way in to catch the female's head barely visible...
05/25/2022 by CarolC
NOTE: This nest was destroyed by a storm in Sept 2019 and we were not aware that it had been rebuilt. It may be hard to follow it this season, but we will reactivate it and get a monitor for it next season. This year, we will do what we can to follow it.
05/24/2022 by CarolC
Mary Alice T reports: I have noticed a new large nest, but didn't know it was being used until today when saw adult fly in the nest and another adult on a tree nearby...
03/13/2020 by CarolC
Debby B confirmed that the nest was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian (Sept. 2019) and wasn't rebuilt.
05/22/2019 by CarolC
Note: Based on Jim's observations, we are guessing that the clutch hatched at least 10 days prior to the chicks being visible in the nest. May 12 is just our guess.
03/06/2019 by CarolC
I am happy to hear that the female is back. I have been by there three times since the third week of February and only saw the male on each visit.
03/06/2019 by CarolC
Jim G reports: 10:05am Female standing in nest - appears to be doing maintenance
10:17am Male landed in nearby tree
08/14/2018 by CarolC
Jim G reports: The youngster fledged prior probably early August since the nest is now empty.
07/30/2018 by CarolC
Jim G. reports:
#7142 09:13am - 09:47am
09:13am Mother and chick are sharing a rather large fish. No sign of the male.
09:30am Mom and chick are still eating.
09:44am The meal is finished. The female takes flight.
09:47am The chick settles in the nest.
07/10/2018 by CarolC
observer reports:
#7142 02:16pm - 02:38pm
02:16pm Female and 1 chick in nest. Female is shading chick with spread wings.
02:23pm Female is making repeated calls and scanning the sky. Both are standing.
02:34pm Female calling more frequently.
02:38pm Chick settles in nest and female resumes shading the chick.
06/24/2018 by CarolC
observer reports: #7142 05:04pm -05:23pm
05:07pm Male arrived at nest with a fish(not the one hanging on the side of the nest). He dropped fish in nest and flew. Female began feeding chick.
05:23pm Female still feeding chick and taking an occasional bite for herself.
06/04/2018 by CarolC
Observer comments: Still no signs of chicks in either nest, despite claims by the alligator boat operators that there are “juveniles” in nest #7142. Some gentle probing revealed that the two people who making the claims were passing along things heard from others. I am observing with a 60X spotting scope, so I have a very close and clear view of the nest
06/03/2018 by CarolC
observer reports: 02:18pm - 02:58pm
02:18pm Adult sitting low in nest.
02:24pm Male circling above nest and calling. Female responding to his calls.
02:25pm Male flies away.
02:46pm Female frequently scans the sky, but no sign of the male since 02:25pm.
02:58pm Observation terminated.
05/25/2018 by CarolC
observer reports:
04:56pm - 05:28pm
04:56pm Adult sitting low in nest.
04:58pm Male sitting in nearby tree - calling.
05:17pm Female standing in nest.
05:20pm Female settled low in nest.
05:28pm Observation terminated.
05/13/2018 by CarolC
Observer reports: 03:47pm - 04:44pm
03:47pm Adult (later determined to be the female when she briefly stood up) sitting low in nest.
03:54pm Male caught a fish near the nesting tree, landed nearby and ate.
04:10pm Male landed on edge of nest, stayed about 15 seconds and then flew away.
04:17pm Male attempted to catch another fish, failed and landed in tree next to nest.
04:41pm Female stood up in nest, made some some adjustments and resettled in incubation position.
04:44pm Observation terminated.
05/08/2018 by CarolC
The incubation date of 4/24 is a total guess since this nest was not discovered until late April. The person who found the nest thought there was a chick in it, but subsequent observations indicate incubation is continuing. We will try to figure this out.
05/08/2018 by CarolC
Observer reports: 01:23pm One adult on nest - seems to be incubating.
01:38pm Adult making adjustments on bottom of nest - maybe turning eggs.
01:42pm Adult standing on edge of nest, cleaning or making adjustments.
02:01pm Adult stood on edge of nest for about 30 seconds then flew.
Adult had heavy streaking on breast - probably female.
04/24/2018 by CarolC
This nest was not found until April 24th when a possible chick's head was observed. We have no earlier information on adult arrival, incubation etc.