Nesting Diaries
Visited 5/8. Some dramatic lighting. Male brought nesting material to the nest. Female hunkered down, but both adults left the nest at one point. I believe there are chicks in this deep nest and that the female is brooding.
Visited for a short time this a.m. Female still on eggs. Male was around.
Visited this a.m. Busy place. The male and female had to defend against several intruders (male Ospreys). At one point, the female had to leave the nest and eggs. She returned within minutes. See photo #3 of defender and intruder.
The female is on eggs. I watched her for 45 minutes. She was hunkered down and barely moved. She made loud alarm calls almost every time a Brown Pelican flew close to the nest. I've observed this same behavior at the Elizabeth River Park nest. Never saw the male.
Huge nest. Surprised this wasn't on anyone's radar. The platform appears to have been around for a while.