Nesting Diaries
Jack C reports:
No activity at or near the nest. We believe that the nestling has fledged probably in late June/early July but we cannot confirm the date.
Jack C reports:
no osprey activity at nest or in vicinity.
NOTE: While we can not be certain, this nest may have produced 1 nestling that probably hatched about the second week in May. It very well may have fledged without us seeing it.
Jack C reports: no birds on nest or in tree but a lot of vocalizations from a nearby tree, probably from juvenile
Jack C reports: 7757 one osprey probably male on branch about 10 feet above nest in looking down at nest and vocalizing. I think I heard some talk from the nest but not absolutely sure, could not see an osprey on the nest but it could be low down. There were some regular vocalizations from about 50 yards away
Jack C reports:
one bird on nest one bird in adjacent tree
Jack C reports: vocalizations from the nest but no visible bird. Osprey circling high above nest
NOTE: Based on the last two observations, we assume incubation may have started about April 1
Jack C reports: I saw no osprey at the nest but heard sounds from within and there was an osprey flying over Lake Mary nearby so I think they are still in business.
Pauline D added a photo of the pair at the nest.
Jack C reports: 7757 one osprey on nest and another perched in same tree above nest. Jack
Pauline D sent some additional photos from 3-7-23
Mary Alice T reports: Dad was very busy nest building and although Mom was there when we arrived, she soon took off. Dad worked hard to gather nesting material. He was also trying to remove some of it
Jack C reports no activity yet at the nest.
Jack C reports that the nest is still there to start the 2023 season
Jack C confirms the nest is empty and they have fledged and left.
Jack C reports: no activity on nest or nearby.
NOTE: It appears that the juvenile has fledged. we will delete the incubation date since it has to have been much earlier...probably began in late March.
NOTE: The date of incubation starting is not confirmed. It would be too late to have started for the chick to have fledged by 5/30.
Jack C reports: 7757 no osprey at nest or nearby. I think the juvenile fledged the last time I reported.
Jack C reports:I believe there was one chick that fledged around 5/30/22. I saw it on a branch nearby the nest squawking with two adults nearby.
Jack C reports: 7757 no activity at nest but what appeared to be a juvenile was on a branch about 20 yards away vocalizing constantly and two adults flying around and oriented to branch rather than nest.
Jack C reports: 7757 had one osprey in the nest vocalizing occasionally. I couldn't tell if it was an adult or juvenile There was an adult soaring nearby.
Jack C reports: Incubation underway with another osprey flying near the nest.
Jack C reports: 7757 two osprey standing on side of the nest but intermittently flying off and returning
Mary Alice T reports: Activity seen and photos taken
Jack C reports: Had a male and female at but not in the nest not recumbent.
Mary Alice T reports: Male was there calling his mate for quite some time and eventually she came, but couldn't get a shot of them together..
Debby B reported two osprey at the nest site.
Mary Alice and Allyson report: no activity on nest. Both adults sitting in a nearby pine tree making calls to each other. While I was there to get a shot of something else, when I left one adult as sitting in the nest but they were making no effort to gather nesting materials...
Mary Alice T reports: one adult was sitting on the nest and one in a nearby tree. They eventually both flew away. The nest still looks a mess and they were making no attempt to rebuild. I don't have high hopes for these mates unless they get serious... I think they were trying in the beginning, but some weather event must have happened that destroyed it perhaps.
Allyson L reports: (In reference to a photo taken of this nest in a really sad state!)
I went by and it looks exactly like the picture. I walked all around the bottom of the tree, looking for any debris or egg bits, though I didn’t expect to find them. I did not see anything. I waited almost an hour and drove around the tree on the dirt road that encircles it. I didn’t see any signs of ospreys. Then five minutes later, there was an osprey hunting in the distance but I couldn’t see it clearly.
On the way out of the Forest Preserve, I stopped and talked to the nature guide that takes people out on Lake Mary. He said that only the lower part blew down but the nest is still there and so are the two ospreys.
As I was talking to him, the female flew over my head.
So, not 100% conclusive but I have hope after talking to the nature guide.
Allyson reports: Good news!!
Went back at 7 pm April 21, 2021. The female was on the nest (but standing- not roosting). The male was nearby in a pine tree.
Hooray!!
Mary Alice T. captured a photo of this nest showing that part of it appears to have come down in a storm/wind. Allyson then made several trips to the nest to check on the situation. Both reports are posted as 4/21/21
Allyson L reports: Viewed female perched in tree next to the nest – stayed awhile and saw no other activity. Female remained on her perch.
Allyson L reports: The ospreys are on the nest! However, when I checked Monday, the nest was empty initially but then the male appeared. He stayed on the nest for a while.
Allyson L reports: The female and male have returned! The male hunted over Lake Mary while the female perched on a tree just behind the nest. I watched, excited, as a bald eagle chased the male and seemed very close to catching him. The male did a quick maneuver and ducked below the bald eagle and then followed the bald eagle. Wow. This is an evasion tactic taken to be out of the higher predator’s reach. How thrilling to see this in action. (once I saw the male again alive and okay!)
Allyson L. Reports:As of 2/20/2021 is still unoccupied.
Allyson L reports: no osprey sighting; nest is undisturbed
Allyson L reports: no osprey sighting; nest is undisturbed
Allyson L reports: There was no sign of an osprey nor did the nest appear disturbed.
Allyson L reports:Spanish moss is droopy down from the nest and it appears to need shoring up. Keeping my fingers crossed there! There was no activity around the nest, nor were there any ospreys in the surrounding area.
Mary Alice T reports: still hanging around the nest! Although fledged, they apparently like the nest area.
Debby B reports: Yesterday late afternoon, Tues. 11th, stopped by nest for few minutes with both babies hunkered down. Luckily, dad few in with fish and proceeded to dissect it for kids and few away. Mom was like a stone statue on adjacent limb. This morn, stopped by and saw one baby in nest, so thought other had flown yesterday pm after MA and I left scene. Then, LUCKILY saw this one baby fluttering wings and jumping up and down...with mom flying from adjacent tree to limb right above nest. Suddenly, baby took off mid air toward lake, flying low circling nest about 4X.Two birds flew overhead and I thought one was the other baby who may have fledged yesterday, but, no, the other baby appeared center of nest when courageous one returned. Then #1 "big sister" left little one in nest, sort of standing and looking around. So think perhaps this morn (12th) was first flight and the other will follow in day or so. So that's just additional observation to closing out our happiest avian family on Hilton Head!
Mary Alice T reports: when I arrived Mom was sitting in tree with about 5 other crows, making alot of racket. Then she flew off with a headless fish in her talons. Never saw her again. Both nestlings alert and sitting up and stretched their wings several times...
Debby B reports: Chicks will probably fly away this weekend. This morning both chicks were sitting in nest, mother on adjacent tree. Dad flew in while I was trying to id some little birds in elderberry tree and don't think he left fish, but flew to another tree. Suddenly three osprey were flying circles over nest, believe mother had joined two others as dad was still on tree chirping away..."come on over, kids, you can do it, see those black and white wonders flying around." As the two were gazing into the air. I believe both babies were flapping wings, but not yet standing on edge nest.
Mary Alice T; reports: There was a lot of activity - Dad flew in with nesting material (a little late, eh?) and Mom flew off two times while Dad perched on tree and guarded the nest. At first I did not see the 2nd chick for a while, but when Mom flew out, I could clearly see both.
more photos - Dad perched in tree, Dad bringing nesting material in, Mom yaking (w/chick), nestling stretching wings
Debby reports: , 7757 chicks should be off and away, but they aren't. They are still in nest with adults, not even exercising their wings. I knew the whole family was super devoted, and now the kids can't seem to leave home like some human ones I know.
Mary Alice T. shared 3 photos of the nest. Mom throwing shade on nestlings (saw 2 but couldn't get a shot of 2nd one) and then Dad coming in for a visit (no fish) and landing.
Mary Alice T: Took this today of the nest - now you can more clearly see the 2nd nestling! It is always underneath the Mom!!
Debby B reports: Haven't see the nestlings for 2 days but adults are around.
Mary Alice T shared two photos of Mom feeding the chicks.
Debby B reports: Two babies in 7757, smothered with love by doting parents.
Mary Alice observed one of the young at this nest and shared several photos.
Debby B reports: mon, 7 a.m. 6/22...just saw two scrawny baby heads peeking up in 7757, so probably did hatch on June 4th! I am so happy I cried on the spot! Had seen male twice in last two weeks on adjacent limb eating fish, and I thought, "how selfish," but maybe he was ingesting food to regurgitate to babies. What a wonderful pair! mother was on nest.
Debby B reports: I thought eggs had hatched as both parents mulling around excitedly. When checking afterwards, although both parents in and around nest, think perhaps eggs failed. Both have been bringing sticks to nest and sitting in middle.
Debby B reports: devoted couple in 7757 are diligent in sitting on the eggs.
Debby B and Lynn H report: incubation started 4-27 and believe WILL hatch around June 3rd
Debby B reports: Much coming and going.
4/27 looks like female is incubating, but not sure. Both back and forth, chased adult eagle away, then I believe female nestled down in nest while male perched on nearby tree. Difficult to distinguish between male and female when not together. NOTE: Based on this we will list TENTATIVE incubation as of today.
Debby B reports: Debby B reports: early a.m. DB observed much coming and going. 9:00 – 10 a.m. LH saw Adult on nest, but doesn’t seem settled down as if incubation. Shortly, she left the nest and perched in the nest tree. About 10 minutes later she had flown off.
Lynn H reports: Lynn H reports: April 21: 9 a.m. LH observed female on nest, arranging sticks. She flew off while I was watching. Another adult was soaring nearby. l/2 hour later, LH observed male bringing fish to the female at the nest. Then one flew off with the fish, but I couldn’t tell which. No evidence that they are incubating.
Debby B reports: 4-18 a.m. previous 4 days, no birds on nest when I drove by in early morn and thought abandoned. 4-18 a.m. both on nest, then left for 15 min., then saw both on nearby tree. this is strange, yet devoted, pair...perhaps young.
Debby B reports: on Fri, 4-17, both on nest, looks like male left, female went to nearby tree and brought back a twig, then left. I never get out of car nor go near nest, yet wonder if they are spooked with constant action. 4-17, Austin, the worker, cut grass with LOUD whacker under nest for about 10 minutes.
Debby B and Lynn H report: Debby B and Lynn H report: April 15: 9:30 a.m. no ospreys near nest. As a thunderstorm approached, an adult landed in a perch tree two trees to the nw of the nest. So at least one adult seems to be staying in the area; but there is no evidence of incubation yet. DB reported that she saw no adults near the nest the last few days.
Mary Alice T reports: .These are some shots of the female Osprey at the new nest in SP. I was there today and I know someone is following, but might not have a long lens to get better shots. Did not see the male. I don't think there are any eggs yet. They have really built this nest up, so they are staying
Debby B reports: one brought nesting material, both together on nest, left. then both few together to nest, one brought fish and then left with the fish in his/her talons. selfish! not sitting yet. looks like the male is primarily bringing/preparing nest material
Lynn H reports: Lynn reports: April 10: 8:30 a.m. no ospreys near nest, but a couple are soaring high above Lk Mary.
Debby B reports: April 5: early a.m. DB reports 2 adults on the nest.
Lynn H will be helping Debby B monitor this nest for a while.
April 4: 11:15 a.m. Deb B showed Lynn H where this nest is, so she can help with observation. There was a female on the nest, and a male perched nearby. He flew off while we were watching. Then the female also flew off, so she is probably not yet incubating. This nest is within sight of #7143, so there may be some confusion about which male we are seeing, if he is not right at the nest.
John C. reported this nest to us, it is currently be monitored but this is added info: The nest is active, with a pair of ospreys dressing the nest and perching on the branches of the pine tree above the nest. Perhaps the significant new fact is that this pair of ospreys seem to have mated at about 12 noon on Friday 3 April.
Debby B reports: 7757 is still building
Debby B reports - both adults seen on nest 3-25, 3-26 and 3-27. Nest is flimsy and pair have not added much as yet, just sitting around.
Debby B reported this new nest on 3/25: Here's pix of strange start of osprey nest by double bench in Forest Preserve entry to anhinga trail. This morning, 25th, drove by and saw osprey on same snag as seen previously, but then another flew in with nesting material (spanish moss) and left and came back with more material. Then both left, flew to nearby pine and I believe.... MATED!!