Nickname
Smiths Dairy - 044-A-005
Coordinates
(40.6273, -75.1488)
Substrate
Pole next to farm silo with metal framework containing the conveyer motor used to bring grain up to top to fill the silo. Nest is on top of the motor structure.
Description
On the west side of Riegelsville-Warren Glen Rd, route 627, just north of Cemetery Rd, on farm structure. Smith's Dairy Farm
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
| 2021 - CyclistBarb | 2020 - CyclistBarb | |
|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | ||
| aOccupied | No | Yes |
| aActive | ||
| bEgg Laying | ||
| bIncubation Initiation | ||
| cClutch Hatching | ||
| dNestlings | 2 | |
| eFledglings | 2 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 8/8/20 | |
| fChicks Last Observed | ||
| xNest Failure | ||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020
Activity reports
2020 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/08/2020 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by CyclistBarb
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | 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
04/04/2022 by CyclistBarb
2:00 p.m. While passing I stopped just long enough to get a photo of the tower where an osprey pair raised two healthy fledglings two years ago! The farmer completely removed the nesting material in the fall of 2020 and put an owl statue up on the structure to scare off the osprey. I wonder where they moved to nest?
07/04/2021 by CyclistBarb
While bike riding here last fall, I noticed that the substantial nest from last year had been cleaned off of the silo motor housing tower. Today I saw that the Smith Diary people had put a huge fake owl on this tower no doubt to keep the ospreys from rebuilding the nest. Too bad! I wish I could locate where they move to. This was a nice nest, easily seen and produced two big, healthy chicks last season!
04/23/2021 by CyclistBarb
2:46 p.m. Out doing osprey nest checks I see that the birds have returned to the dairy farm and have begun rebuilding their nest! The farmer completely removed the large nest from last year as we saw in November while riding by on our bikes. I wonder if the farmer will try to evict the osprey?
11/08/2020 by CyclistBarb
11/08/2020 by CyclistBarb
2:36 p.m. Out on a bike ride I see that the farmer has completely cleaned this huge nest off the top of his silo conveyer motor housing!!
08/15/2020 by CyclistBarb
10:15 a.m. I am riding my bike past this nest with my husband and a friend. We stop to watch and are immediately rewarded and entertained by these two feisty siblings! Again, one is on the south silo structure, the other is on the nest! Again I see the one, fly to the nest and create a dust-up with its sibling that has them both flying and screeching! I can't tell if there is prey involved again, or if this is just "play" but it is certainly fascinating. I do have my camera and take a couple shots. We don't stay long so I don't see an adult. It is tempting to spend more time watching this entertaining pair! I am so glad I spotted this nest when I did!
08/12/2020 by CyclistBarb
10:50 a.m. I am in the area and stop to see and be very entertained by two fledglings! They prove to both be skillful fliers and I have estimated their fledge date as 8/8. When I arrive, one of the chicks is sitting on the nest and eating a fish! I can see the fish's tail as it tears off bites. The sibling is perched on another silo structure to the south and calling persistently. I believe it is eager to get a share of the fish! My speculation is proved correct when sibling #1 flies from its perch to the nest and knocks sibling #2 off the prey and off the nest in a flurry of feathers and screeching! They both call and fly around the nest area and then one lands again on the fish and mantles. From the trees near Cemetery Rd, I hear what I assume is one of the adults giving "instructions" or reprimanding! It is fascinating to watch! I can't tell whether it is #2 on the nest again, reclaiming its breakfast, or #1 demanding and taking its share! At any rate, the "loser" goes to the structure to the south and perches there, watching. I find that I can get a good, and different view of the nest activity from Cemetery Rd. The view is also good from the Riegelsville-Warren Glen Rd, and from a pull-in just south of the main farm driveway.
08/05/2020 by CyclistBarb
1:20-1:25 p.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 see that this nest, sitting way up with almost no wind-breaks or protection around it, is safe and intact. Two beautiful chicks are sitting side by side on the nest. They are looking large and ready to fledge any day!
07/24/2020 by CyclistBarb
12:15 p.m. Two big chicks were on this tall nest together. No parents were seen. As with other chicks in this area, these chicks will be fledging very soon.
07/19/2020 by CyclistBarb
3:30 p.m. On my way from checking nests in the Milford-Riegelsville area to the Warren Glen nest I spot this nest! I have been by here many times and also on Cemetery Rd. I even stopped to look briefly one time at this silo/pole, but apparently the lighting wasn't good and perhaps I didn't use my binoculars! It certainly is easy to see, close to the road, tall and the nest is very tall/deep! This nest is about a quarter mile from the Warren Glen nest which is on a cell tower. There was an adult, probably the female, and two chicks on the nest, looking as though they are about ready to fledge!