Nesting Diaries
Brief visit in the a.m. The male delivered what appeared to be plastic to the nest. Nest building continues.
Visited in the a.m. The male left the nest and returned with a large piece/sheet of plastic. But not to be outdone, the female left the nest and returned with small branch. It's cool to see both sexes participate in this way.
Visited in the a.m. Both were on the neighboring light tower (the one closer to Oak Brooke Park), and the female was feeding. While I was there, the male delivered nest liner (leaves). I also observed mating behavior. I don't think it'll be long before eggs are laid.
I made a brief visit in the a.m. Both Ospreys were there. At one point they left but soon returned. The female has lock-on bands on both legs. The band on her right leg has a '6' or a '9' on it.
While I was there this a.m., the female stayed on nest and the male left and returned several times. At one point the pair engaged in pair bonding behavior. I didn't observe them copulate. In photo #20, the male is about to land on the female's back. She knew he was coming and was ready.
10:56 AM - Osprey on cell tower at Chesapeake bypass highway - near Battlefield Blvd. I parked at the American Legion on Battlefield and photoed the bird. Then I drove to the nearby Osprey nest at the athletic field at Greenbrier Christian Academy. No Osprey; so it's possible this Osprey on the Bypass' cell tower was the one from Greenbrier Christian Academy's nest. The school’s west side parking lot was full of cars, people and signs. 63°F and sunny.
5:10 PM - Dave told me an Osprey returned, Tonight, I photoed a female with yellow/gold band on left leg. 62°F and partly sunny. 6.01 PM sunset
I made a quick visit this a.m. to check on the Greenbrier Christian Academy light tower. It appears the Ospreys have returned. A female was on the nest when I arrived, but she soon took off to feed(?).
While I visited the area (7:45-8:00 a.m.), there was an adult Osprey on the edge of the light tower and just outside the nest.
7:24 AM - No Ospreys. Flies buzzing around at the nest. https://ebird.org/checklist/S144587556
Posting photo of empty nest; to show its size, status.
https://ccbbirds.org/2023/07/08/a-tale-of-two-bays-osprey-fortunes-diverge/
The bulk of the nest building seems to be done. The pair is spending some of their time perched in a tree in a wooded area just south of the nest.
6:40 AM - Ten minutes after sunrise, I photoed one Osprey fly out of nest and land on top of the other Osprey. Possible copulation. 40°F and sunny. 6:22 AM sunrise. https://ebird.org/checklist/S130637342
Observed pair this a.m. Male both delivered nesting material and chased away crows. See photo #10.
The female has arrived. The male arrived in late Feb. I observed the female and male above the nest on the light tower on 3/7. She vocalized briefly (see photo #9).
Osprey perched beside nest. Presumably this large amount of nesting branches (packed onto the ball field's light) are leftover from last year.
6.45 AM - no ospreys visible at or around nest.
5:37AM (5:55 AM sunrise) - Osprey on ball field light adjacent to light with nest.
7:21 AM Osprey at nest atop athletic field light
Much of the 2020 nest is still intact. It caught my eye, as I drove by; so I snapped a photo.
6:11 AM Saw glimpses of a young bird’s head as adult broke off bites for feeding at nest. 72 degrees F.
12:50 PM - One Osprey in nest, and second osprey perched on top of parking lot light pole
6:10am: Adult Osprey and fill-sized chick at nest. (75°F and cloud. 6:06 AM sunrise)