Nickname
Elizabeth River Park
Coordinates
(36.808, -76.2866)
Substrate
Steel pile
Description
Chesapeake, VA. On top of a 40' steel pile(?) where Scuffletown Creek flows into the Elizabeth River. There's a tugboat operation there. I believe the pile secures a barge.
Followers
None
What to look for
Review All Observations
2024 - Dave Gibson2023 - Dave Gibson2021 - Dave Gibson2020 - Dave Gibson
aAdult Arrival3/1/243/9/213/15/20
aOccupiedYesYesYesYes
aActive
bEgg Laying
bIncubation Initiation4/20/23
cClutch Hatching6/1/23
dNestlings12
eFledglings
eFirst Chick Fledging7/25/23
fChicks Last Observed
xNest Failure6/15/20
xReason For Nest Failureeggs or young killed by predator

Select Seasons

Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2023 2022 2021 2020

Activity reports

2020 Nest Activity Report by Dave Gibson
Adult arrival03/15/2020Nestlings2
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg layingChicks last observed
Incubation initiationNest failure06/15/2020
Clutch hatchingReason for nest failureeggs or young killed by predator
2021 Nest Activity Report by Dave Gibson
Adult arrival03/09/2021Nestlings
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg layingChicks last observed
Incubation initiationNest failure
Clutch hatchingReason for nest failure
2023 Nest Activity Report by Dave Gibson
Adult arrivalNestlings1
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging07/25/2023
Egg layingChicks last observed
Incubation initiation04/20/2023Nest failure
Clutch hatching06/01/2023Reason for nest failure
Nest Activity Report by Dave Gibson
Adult arrival03/01/2024Nestlings
Nest OccupiedYesFledglings
Nest Active First chick fledging
Egg layingChicks last observed
Incubation initiationNest failure
Clutch hatchingReason for nest failure

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

03/16/2024 by Dave Gibson
When I arrived in the a.m., both male and female were there, and both were in the nest. They left soon thereafter. A short while later, the male (I assume it was the male) performed a territorial(?) sky dance with what was likely a headless fish.

03/03/2024 by Dave Gibson
To my knowledge, the nest is occupied. A female was on the nest, and I think I saw the male moments earlier.

07/30/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited in the a.m. The chick was in the nest only some of the time. It vocalized several times.

07/29/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited in the a.m. The nest was empty, and the chick was gone. I tried to locate it but couldn't. The 7/25 fledge date is a guess, but I think it's a good one.

07/22/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited in the a.m. This time, the chick was alone. It flapped vigorously several times and went airborne. It won't be long before it fledges.

07/15/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited in the a.m. The chick and female were in the nest. The chick is getting bigger and looks healthy. At one point it flapped and went airborne. Incubation initiation and clutch hatching dates are guesses.

07/09/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited in the a.m. The pair have produced 1 young. Exciting find.

06/11/2023 by Dave Gibson
Visited early. The female was on nest and vocalizing. She is either still incubating or brooding young.

05/10/2023 by Dave Gibson
Quick visit while birding Elizabeth River Park. An adult was hunkered down and incubating eggs.

05/21/2021 by Dave Gibson
Observed nest while walking in park. Female was on nest and vocalized. Male hunted. The female could be frooding young, but not sure. Glad to see both birds there.

04/17/2021 by Dave Gibson
Visited on 4/17 late in day. Female was buried in the nest and the male hunted. Observed him catch a fish and carry it off. He returned later with nesting material for the nest.

04/13/2021 by Dave Gibson
Visited this a.m. I don't think there's any question that the female is on eggs.

03/26/2021 by Dave Gibson
Observed female on the nest. Male was absent. Nest is growing.

03/11/2021 by Dave Gibson
Nest building continues.

03/09/2021 by Dave Gibson
New arrivals. Much vocalizing. Observed copulation behavior.

07/26/2020 by Dave Gibson
I'm not sure, now, whether or not the nest here has failed. Yesterday, I observed an adult defending the nest from a Bald Eagle. This a.m. an adult spent a considerable amount of time sitting in the nest.

07/05/2020 by Dave Gibson
I discovered the male building this nest in March, 2020. The female showed up later, and the pair mated. They produced offspring (don't know the number). Sometime in June, the nest was abandoned. I assume a predator got to the chicks. I've been back several times, but haven't seen any signs of life there. Please see the photos which document the "progression." The last photo is of the abandoned nest.