Nickname
ELESC Nest Box
Coordinates
(37.0516, -76.324)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Description
Head of Hampton River, residential neighborhood
Followers
None
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 - Shrkldy99 | 2021 - Shrkldy99 | |
|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/6/22 | 3/23/21 |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes |
| aActive | ||
| bEgg Laying | ||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/10/22 | |
| cClutch Hatching | 6/7/22 | |
| dNestlings | 1 | |
| eFledglings | 1 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 7/18/22 | |
| fChicks Last Observed | 8/22/22 | |
| xNest Failure | 5/17/22 | |
| xReason For Nest Failure | other |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021
Activity reports
2021 Nest Activity Report by Shrkldy99
| Adult arrival | 03/23/2021 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | 05/17/2022 | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | We think the competition from other Osprey and eagles nearby |
2022 Nest Activity Report by Shrkldy99
| Adult arrival | 03/06/2022 | Nestlings | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/18/2022 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 08/22/2022 | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/10/2022 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/07/2022 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
03/05/2023 by Shrkldy99
I first saw and heard an Osprey near the nest. Haven’t seen any land on the platform yet.
02/23/2023 by Shrkldy99
A neighbor first saw an Osprey on our part of the river on 02/23, not near our nest though.
08/26/2022 by Shrkldy99
We have been enjoying watching the baby bring its food back to the nest and seeing it grow. That’s been happening over the last several weeks. This week though, the nest has been empty and we think the ospreys are gone for the year.
07/20/2022 by Shrkldy99
Came home later in the day after the flight to the perch and baby was gone from the nest. Could hear the parents and maybe baby calling in the trees. Saw him back in the nest the next day and eating for himself today. Not mom feeding him. So independent!
06/11/2022 by Shrkldy99
Baby certainly seems decent sized and with fluffy gray feathers all over, not small and pink. Only one baby is obvious and I rather doubt there are smaller ones still down in the nest. Today one partner (male?) brought a fish to the female (?) and the baby was very interested in it, although maybe not quite trying to take it.
06/07/2022 by Shrkldy99
Finally saw a baby! We’ve been watching, but the nest is deep, so it may have been there for a while already.
03/22/2022 by Shrkldy99
Juvenile eagle and a third Osprey hanging out in the area of the nest today. Hope our pair hold their ground!!
05/18/2021 by Shrkldy99
There’s some kind of different bird in the nest. Not an Osprey. We thought maybe duck or even a rail. There are Osprey around, but not in the nest.
05/17/2021 by Shrkldy99
Mama doesn’t seem to be in the nest anymore. :-(. A neighbor mentioned that the Osprey were chasing off the juvenile eagle the other day.