Nickname
324 Fort Howell PH
Coordinates
(32.2389, -80.6982)
Substrate
Live Tree
Description
The nest is located by 324 Ft. Howell Drive in Palmetto Hall, Hilton Head.
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
| 2022 - CarolC | 2021 - CarolC | |
|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 2/21/22 | |
| aOccupied | Yes | No |
| aActive | ||
| bEgg Laying | ||
| bIncubation Initiation | 3/27/22 | |
| cClutch Hatching | 4/24/22 | |
| dNestlings | 2 | 3 |
| eFledglings | 2 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 6/13/22 | |
| fChicks Last Observed | ||
| xNest Failure | ||
| xReason For Nest Failure |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021
Activity reports
2021 Nest Activity Report by CarolC
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| 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 CarolC
| Adult arrival | 02/21/2022 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/13/2022 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 03/27/2022 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 04/24/2022 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
07/06/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: The 2022 season ospreys are still hanging around the nest. Tonight both were close to the nest eating dinner. Here is the male
06/23/2022 by CarolC
NOTE: Based on this latest observation, we are guessing that the young fledged about June 13, but that is just a guess.
06/22/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I returned from vacation on Monday and was pleased to see our chicks have left the nest, flying around and still being fed in the nest.
Tonight, I saw both fly out of the nest, share some dinner with the male adult close by.
Wonderful sights to watch!
05/24/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: The last couple of visits I only saw 2 osprey chicks and feel confident that is all that remains unfortunately. The two we have in the nest look great. I have seen both male and female plus other curious ospreys visiting overhead.
04/30/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: 5 images added accompanied by these comments.
Fun to watch how protective the female adult is and how the little one doesn’t appear to be bothered;
2 Female adults in the nest doesn’t work for this mom;
Food delivery;
confirmation of 3 nestlings
04/29/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports:
I have been suspecting for a couple of weeks we had chicks but couldn’t see them. FINALLY! There are 3 chicks visible.
03/27/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I observed the nest and ospreys a few times this month. In all instances, the female was in the nest and the male close by.
Today, it appears that the osprey was sitting on eggs. Yeah!
03/06/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: The female was calling for her mate and he finally came and attempted to mate but didn’t appear successful…this time.
02/21/2022 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I saw both male and female today. Female in the nest and male on a tree nearby.
02/21/2022 by CarolC
06/27/2021 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I spent a great deal of time at the nest today. For awhile the female was in the nest with the chick blocking my view of the chick. Finally she left the nest to join the male in a nearby tree.She didn’t last long in the tree with the male until another osprey flew overhead and she takes off after the osprey.
After she shooed away the other osprey the female adult stayed close to the chick which is when this photo was taken.
Finally I can see the Osprey chick. I have gone by a few times this month and noticed practicing of wing movement and momentary in flight upward.
(2 images added)
Confirmation of only one chick this year.
06/08/2021 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I was finally able to see one chick today which was pretty big.
05/17/2021 by CarolC
Robin S reports: All is going well at nest 8029. Earlier this month I watched the male watching and protecting the nest as another male osprey was flying overhead. The female was sitting on eggs. After the excitement was over it was time to eat.
I went by the nest tonight and believe we may have nestlings. I saw poop leave the nest and not in the correct position for the female on the nest. The female was sitting up a little higher and left the nest and went to a nearby tree.
NOTE: Based on this report, we are assuming there is at least 1 nestling.
04/16/2021 by CarolC
Robin S reports: I have gone by this nest over the past couple of weeks and at times I don’t see anyone in the nest. Today I saw one fly into the nest and then sitting down into the nest. When sitting in the nest you can only see the osprey from one side of the road. Still not too sure about this pair.
03/23/2021 by CarolC
Robin S reports: Nest continues to grow and here is the female perched by the nest.
03/09/2021 by CarolC
Robin S. reports finding this nest in early March.
We think the pair of ospreys that were at nest 6983 are building the new nest at 324 Fort Howell. Since this is a new nest, we are recording the pair's return as 3/9/21, but it may have been earlier. (NOTE 6983 was in a tree that was removed and a platform was placed nearby. )