2023
Started watching nest around March 14. No activity at nest.
March 21--No activity at nest, but a single osprey briefly drifted by at treetop height without stopping, then disappeared behind nearby trees.
March 28--one osprey on and near nesting site. Nest has been started. Osprey protected the platform from another osprey flying nearby
April 4--definitely a pair. First osprey to arrive seems to be the male. Both spending time on and off platform. some nest building activity
April 11--female sitting on nest most of the time. Male was out of sight, but then settled on nest near female. Male picked up a fish from the platform, flew in circle around nest, then landed again. Definite mating behavior after that.
April 18--female appears to be roosting on eggs. Sitting low with only head upright. Got up briefly to do what appeared to be egg rolling. The nest is over water and observation positions are below the platform level, so knowing if there are any and how many eggs will have to wait until hatching begins. Male flew by once during observation to deliver a fish--but flew off again.
One general comment: the platform is quite removed from regular foot traffic in a very remote spot. As I approach the platform, while still completely out of sight of the nest, I hear the bird(s) calling-I guess as a warning. The tree cover is quite heavy, so I believe the male sits on shore in a tree where any movement on the ground can be detected.
March 1, 2022. 9:45am-10:45am 40 degree F, partly cloudy wind 12 mph SSE Although a few lone osprey have been sighted in the area the day before, there was no activity at BP1 Kathy A