Nickname
Kingsmill Cell Tower at Soccer Field
Coordinates
(37.2304, -76.6745)
Substrate
cell tower
Description
Seen from Maintenance Parking Lot off of Mounts Bay/Frances Thacker
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 - Pat717 | 2022 - Pat717 | 2021 - Pat717 | 2020 - Pat717 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/14/23 | 3/8/22 | 3/2/21 | 3/3/20 |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| aActive | ||||
| bEgg Laying | ||||
| bIncubation Initiation | ||||
| cClutch Hatching | 5/27/21 | |||
| dNestlings | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| eFledglings | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 6/29/23 | 6/22/22 | 6/23/21 | 6/27/20 |
| fChicks Last Observed | ||||
| xNest Failure | ||||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2022 2021 2020
Activity reports
2020 Nest Activity Report by Pat717
| Adult arrival | 03/03/2020 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/27/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by Pat717
| Adult arrival | 03/02/2021 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/23/2021 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 05/27/2021 | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by Pat717
| Adult arrival | 03/08/2022 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/22/2022 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2023 Nest Activity Report by Pat717
| Adult arrival | 03/14/2023 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/29/2023 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
06/29/2023 by Pat717
The solitary nestling did not want to leave the nest yesterday. Mom was in the other cell tower yelling for it to fly. Today I saw the nestling fly off the nest probably down to the river at Mom's request.
06/05/2023 by Pat717
On Monday, I watched as Mom was agitated by other osprey flying near the cell phone tower nest. Dad who was in the adjacent tower took off to scare the onlookers away and then Mom left the nest! I was surprised by this- leaving her nestling alone. I waited for a bit but no return of mom. Later in the day all was well.
05/23/2023 by Pat717
On May 23rd, I was able to catch my first glimpse of one rather large hatchling. Mom was busy off to the side the whole time I was there perhaps tending to another hatchling? Amazing that this first born is already pumping its wings! Beautiful!!
03/04/2023 by Pat717
Our male Osprey is back! The nest looks well developed and he chased after a pair of Bald Eagles as I watched yesterday:)
06/28/2022 by Pat717
The hatchlings have fledged! There is no one on the nest but a lot of flight activity around the cell tower. Today when downloading old pictures from this season I see that this nest produced 3 offspring!! See new photos:)
06/08/2022 by Pat717
Have observed foreign osprey harassing the active nest on multiple occasions. Mom and Dad work well to scare outsider off with sound and aggressive flight. Two hatchlings join in with the raucous alarm.
03/05/2022 by Pat717
Observed male flying around cell tower nest site. Saw him sitting alone on nest as well. Nest looks to be in decent shape with some new pine thatching.
06/28/2021 by Pat717
Mom on nest enjoying a meal alone! The fledglings must be out catching fish with Dad.
06/23/2021 by Pat717
One of the nestlings flew above the nest this afternoon! The other nestling looked on in amazement with mouth open.
06/18/2021 by Pat717
Siblings are patiently waiting for Mom to serve dinner. One of the nestlings is pumping wings.
06/14/2021 by Pat717
We have two confirmed hatchlings! Finally got a photo with Mom and both offspring with their "pinecone" feathering:)
05/27/2021 by Pat717
Got a shot of our first hatchling today! Mom and Dad both posed with their offspring but the photo was too blurry...must have been my excitement! So instead here is proud Mom with her wee one.
03/04/2021 by Pat717
Today I was able to discern the female from the male by comparing size when they were next to each other. I missed the shot but there was definite copulation going on!
03/02/2021 by Pat717
Observed female Osprey sitting on nest alone in early afternoon. Later in day observed both birds. Had a hard time telling them apart.
07/09/2020 by Pat717
The third fledgling is still staying fairly close to home when it goes out for practice flights.
07/06/2020 by Pat717
Meals are still being eaten on the nest by the 3rd chick. Not ready to go fishing yet. Mom watches from the neighboring tower.
07/04/2020 by Pat717
The third chick has fledged! What strength and courage to get airborne at such a height!!
07/02/2020 by Pat717
Two chicks have fledged! One left who really wants to join the family for a fishing lesson!
06/28/2020 by Pat717
One of the chicks has fledged! It was sitting with parent in 2nd cell tower to the right of the nest cell tower in the pouring rain! Two more chicks on the nest. One is pumping like crazy trying to get airborne. With the heavy rain, it settled back down.
03/03/2020 by Pat717
Saw male and female on nest this morning! Male left nest several times to fetch additional nest materials.
03/02/2020 by Pat717
Saw male (clean white front) flying in circular pattern over nest site this afternoon calling as he flew. Another osprey was also flying nearby in a circular pattern. It left the area after 5 minutes. Went back at 6:00 pm and male(?) was on nest.