Nest #7450

Nickname

Moss Creek Toppin Dr.

Coordinates

(32.2619, -80.8097)

Substrate

Live Tree

Description

The tall pine tree this new nest was built on top of is behind the house in Moss Creek addressed at 53 Toppin Dr. This house is right on the corner of Victoria and Toppin Drive and towers over a pond.

Followers

None

Monitoring groups

LowCountry Institute

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.

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Activity reports

	2019 - CarolC
aAdult Arrival
aOccupied	Yes
aActive
bEgg Laying
bIncubation Initiation	5/15/19
cClutch Hatching
dNestlings
eFledglings
eFirst Chick Fledging
fChicks Last Observed
xNest Failure	6/15/19
xReason For Nest Failure	unknown reason

Adult arrival		Nestlings
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying		Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation	05/15/2019	Nest failure	06/15/2019
Clutch hatching		Reason for nest failure	unknown reason

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

07/15/2019 by CarolC

Don C reports: Something happened at this Osprey's nest. I don't know what. In mid-May Mom appeared to be incubating her eggs. Up until that time, I would see her walking around the next as if to prepare to lay on her eggs. Something happened about mid-June where activity simply stopped. Up until then, I would always hear that high pitched whistling sound they make throughout the day. All in about 2-3 days then, everything just stopped. Around June 15th, I saw a vacant nest. There was no evidence that eggs had ever been there. My father said it simply must have been a failed nest. I wonder what caused a failed nest. I always listen for them and when I take my walks, I always take my binoculars when I walk that way, however I continue to see and hear nothing. I do see an Osprey or two in other parts of Moss Creek however they are always flying. My hope is these two that built this nest will come back and try again. If they do, I will certainly let you know.

03/18/2019 by CarolC

Don C and Jack C. found and reported this nest on March 16, 2019. It is described as active, but since it was not found until mid-March, we can not provide exact dates for the pair arrival.