Nickname
Bellis Rd Tower - 055-A-004
Coordinates
(40.6127, -75.1523)
Substrate
Transmission tower
Description
Gilbert to Martins Creek
Spans 69/70
Tower 018 (GIL-MCRT_018)
-75.15230174, 40.61266643
This is on the corner of Shire and Bellis Rds
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 - CyclistBarb | 2022 - CyclistBarb | 2021 - CyclistBarb | 2020 - CyclistBarb | 2019 - ENSP Osprey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/28/22 | ||||
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| aActive | |||||
| bEgg Laying | 4/22/22 | 4/12/20 | |||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/22/22 | 4/12/20 | |||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/27/22 | 5/17/20 | |||
| dNestlings | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| eFledglings | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 8/10/20 | 8/4/19 | |||
| fChicks Last Observed | |||||
| xNest Failure | |||||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020 2019
Activity reports
2019 Nest Activity Report by ENSP Osprey
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/04/2019 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/10/2020 | |
| Egg laying | 04/12/2020 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/12/2020 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/17/2020 | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | 03/28/2022 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/22/2022 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/22/2022 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 05/27/2022 | Reason for nest failure |
Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| 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
06/03/2023 by CyclistBarb
12:30 p.m. An adult was sitting up high on the nest. I did not see the mate. I also did not see chicks or any activity by the adult that would indicate nestlings are present. Wait and see. This is usually a productive nest.
05/28/2023 by CyclistBarb
1:00 p.m. There was an adult standing up in the nest. It lowered its head and appeared to either be rolling eggs or arranging the bottom of the nest. It is slightly possible it was feeding a newly hatched chick.
05/05/2023 by CyclistBarb
12:40 p.m. I could not see any incubating bird although this nest usually does lay eggs in late April. I will keep an eye on this nest.
07/22/2022 by CyclistBarb
10:27 a.m. There was only one big chick on the nest when I arrived. The others have ledged sometime during the last 10 days! No surprise as they looked ready when I was here on July 12. Mom was perched above on the structure. I heard calls. Mom flew off. No way to tell for sure if this third chick has also fledged, but I would guess that it has. The other two did not return while I watched. I did not see any other osprey flying around the area.
07/12/2022 by CyclistBarb
2:20 p.m. Three big chicks were eating/self feeding when I arrived. Mom was perched above the nest on a horizontal bar watching her chicks. These chicks look almost ready to fledge as do chicks in other nests the area. It won't be long now.
06/29/2022 by CyclistBarb
One adult (female) was perched on one of the tower posts. Presumably the male was soaring over the ridge in the general area of the nest, toward the river. Three 5 or 6 week old chicks were vigorously wing flapping in the nest.
06/21/2022 by CyclistBarb
11:50 a.m. The male was on the post above the nest. The female was on the nest making soft vocals. Then I saw (through my scope) a third adult hovering very close, right over the nest! The female immediately hopped to a post next to her mate and the warning vocals continued. The intruder circled around above the nest a few times but finaly headed north, out of sight. Mom then returned to the nest. Dad remained on the post watching to the north, apparently guarding his family. The chicks stayed down this entire time--normal defensive behavior for osprey nestlings.
06/17/2022 by CyclistBarb
3:50 p.m. I saw what I assumed was the male soaring high over the nest. The female was feeding three chicks. 3:51 p.m. the male flew into the nest with nesting materials, arranged it, then flew to the post above the nest to perch. The female was eating while she was feeding nestlings.
06/06/2022 by CyclistBarb
1:18 p.m. The adult female sat up tall at the side of the nest. I saw one chick sitting up high with its head held way above the nest rim. It looks to be perhaps 2 or 3 weeks old. This was a very hot day. The chick(s) stayed low out of site and inactive most of the time while I watched. The female was also inactive and seemed to be shading the young osprey from the sun.
05/11/2022 by CyclistBarb
10:25 a.m. One adult, probably the female, was still sitting low on the nest incubating. I didn't see the male. He was probably off fishing in the Musonetcong in the valley below!
04/23/2022 by CyclistBarb
1:33 p.m. The male was perched on a rung of the tower next to the nest. His mate was sitting low on the nest apparently incubating.
04/04/2022 by CyclistBarb
2:00 p.m. As I drove up Cyphers Rd I noticed they are installing a gigantic solar farm on both side of the road in the valley! I also saw there was an osprey perched on top of the tower structure. When I got to the parking place on Shire Rd an adult was sitting in the nest. I am not sure whether this was the same bird or whether I saw the pair and one flew off.
07/30/2021 by CyclistBarb
12:20 p.m. When I arrived, two big chicks were sitting up tall. The head of the third was just visible. At 12:30, the chick to the right side of the nest as I look was self feeding. The other two were still sitting. At 12:35 I noticed two birds which I believe were the parents, soaring on the considerable breeze high above the nest. The chicks noticed and began loud, excited calling! The third one, who was self-feeding, wasn't as interested and kept picking at his food. I have posted 2 photos that clearly show the three chicks.
07/23/2021 by CyclistBarb
11:25 a.m. I was happy to see a lot of wing flapping and two healthy looking chicks sitting next to a parent on the nest. One parent flew in and landed on the nest, another flew off and around the nest. Not sure which was the male and which ws the female. As I was watching I realized there were actually THREE big chicks! I took a video that clearly shows all three, especially after the second parent flew off leaving the chicks alone on the nest!
07/04/2021 by CyclistBarb
1:05 p.m. I haven't been to this nest for two months! Happily I found a female with two, big, healthy looking chicks. At first the chicks weren't active, but eventually one awkwardly started wing flapping and moving around the nest. Then I saw a poop shoot from a different place and knew that there was a second. Then the second did a big wing stretch and eventually both were up and visible.
08/15/2020 by CyclistBarb
3:00p.m. We drive by the tower after our bike ride in this area. I don't see any of the osprey family on the nest or perched on the tower. I am estimating that the chicks fledged on 8/10 since they looked ready on 8/5!
08/05/2020 by CyclistBarb
1:10-1:20p.m. I am doing very quick checks of as many nests as I can after yesterday's tropical storm Isaias. The severely high winds took down many trees and could have blown nests and chicks down. I am happy to find this nest safe and intact. Three big chicks are safe also. As soon as I get my equipment set up, an adult flies in. I can't tell what it has in its talons, but from the amount of excitement it creates among the 3 chicks, I suspect it is prey. There is a flurry of wings and mantling and finally the adult leaves, and the three are left to deal with whatever was delivered!
07/24/2020 by CyclistBarb
11:30 a.m. Two of the chicks were "branching" and the third was sitting in the nest. I didn't see the adults who were probably both off hunting. These chicks will fledge very soon.
07/19/2020 by CyclistBarb
3:05 p.m. I saw 3 big chicks on the nest when I arrived. One on the left was eating, one in the center was preening, and the chick on the right was just standing there! All three were standing up in the nest.
At 3:18 p.m. a parent flew into the nest. Its arrival was announced by loud vocals from the chicks, and the parent apparently brought in prey because all the chicks appeared to self feed after that. I saw a lot of wing-flapping. These nestlings are close to fledging. The parent was standing behind the 3 large off-spring, and not very visible most of the time.
07/09/2020 by CyclistBarb
4:40p.m. I arrived just after Dad brought in a fish for dinner. The entire family was on the nest: Mom, Dad, and 3 chicks. Dad didn't stay long in this crowded nest, but flew to a pillar of the tower overlooking the nest, and eventually flew off. Mom was busy feeding the chicks the entire time I was watching. One to the far left seemed to get most of the meal while the other two, perhaps fed earlier, didn't seem to fight over bites. Both the chick on the far right, sitting up tall, and the chick in the middle, toward the back, were both seen wing flapping (photos). When I left after about 30 minutes, the female was still feeding and nothing much had changed.
06/30/2020 by CyclistBarb
2:00p.m. Because of the rain, the light is not great. I have not observed this pair for almost 4 weeks. Today both adults were sitting tall on the side of the nest closest to me. One (the female I believe) was eating the entire time. The mate sat still beside her. In the background I could see movement of more than one eyas, but the parents blocked the view! I will have to return soon and try to catch meal time to see if I can get an accurate count of chicks.
06/04/2020 by CyclistBarb
2:30 p.m. I noticed that no one was "following" this nest so I decided to see if I could locate it and determine the status. I met a few walkers from the neighborhood who told me this nest always has "a couple" chicks. Apparently they don't know about Osprey Watch. The male was perched on the tower near the female, who was sitting on the nest. I assume she is probably incubating eggs. I will try to check again to see if there are hatchlings.