Nest #9

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Nest #9

Nickname

Scotland ferry slip #5

Coordinates

(37.185, -76.7834)

Substrate

Piling of Slip #5

Description

Scotland Ferry terminal - piling behind VDOT Ferry Building

Followers

None

Monitoring groups

The Center for Conservation Biology, Chesapeake Bay Osprey Watchers, Virginia Master Naturalist

What to look for

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.

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.

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.

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 fly

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.

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.

Nest Failure

Look for signs of nest failure like adult abandonment, adults no longer incubating eggs or feeding young.

Previous Next

Review All Observations

	2020 - bruceg	2018 - bruceg	2017 - Butterflygirl	2014 - LibbyM	2013 - LibbyM	2013 - fmsmith
aAdult Arrival	3/10/20	3/15/18	3/7/17			3/28/13
aOccupied	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
aActive
bEgg Laying	4/5/20	4/1/18	4/9/17
bIncubation Initiation	4/8/19	4/15/18			4/13/13
cClutch Hatching	5/15/19	6/1/18			5/12/13
dNestlings	1	3			2
eFledglings		3
eFirst Chick Fledging
fChicks Last Observed
xNest Failure
xReason For Nest Failure

Select Seasons

Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2020 2019 2018 2017 2014 2013 2012

Activity reports

2013 Nest Activity Report by fmsmith

Adult arrival	03/28/2013	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

2013 Nest Activity Report by LibbyM

Adult arrival		Nestlings	2
Nest Occupied	No	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying		Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation	04/13/2013	Nest failure
Clutch hatching	05/12/2013	Reason for nest failure

2014 Nest Activity Report by LibbyM

Adult arrival		Nestlings
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying		Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation		Nest failure
Clutch hatching		Reason for nest failure

2017 Nest Activity Report by Butterflygirl

Adult arrival	03/07/2017	Nestlings
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying	04/09/2017	Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation		Nest failure
Clutch hatching		Reason for nest failure

2018 Nest Activity Report by bruceg

Adult arrival	03/15/2018	Nestlings	3
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings	3
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying	04/01/2018	Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation	04/15/2018	Nest failure
Clutch hatching	06/01/2018	Reason for nest failure

2020 Nest Activity Report by bruceg

Adult arrival	03/10/2020	Nestlings	1
Nest Occupied	Yes	Fledglings
Nest Active		First chick fledging
Egg laying	04/05/2020	Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation	04/08/2019	Nest failure
Clutch hatching	05/15/2019	Reason for nest failure

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

06/15/2020 by bruceg

One chick in nest with adult.

07/23/2018 by bruceg

Three chicks close to fledging. Two adults nearby

03/06/2018 by Butterflygirl

Male perched on second pylon from end where previous nest has been

04/09/2017 by Butterflygirl

Female appears to be laying an egg. Absolutely still in nest. Male nearby with fish but no response or squawking on female part. Nest is on last pylon toward power plant (with light on it) even though three distinct nests are built on three different pylons.

03/16/2017 by Butterflygirl

9:30 am: Received permission from Captain Ripley to observe nest with escorted visits on ship berthed closest to nest. Male and female both flying to and from nest.

03/08/2017 by Butterflygirl

8:30 am: not sure if this is the same nest but it is the farthest pilon from the office building toward the nuclear power station as you enter the terminal from the Surry side over where the Virginia is usually docked. Nest is nicely built with both male and female paired on it. Male brought branch over to add during observation.

03/07/2017 by Butterflygirl

4:55pm: see male on pylon beside end pylon with female and fairly established nest built in it.

06/16/2013 by LibbyM

2 adults with >=2 chicks ~ 5-6 weeks old

03/28/2013 by fmsmith

Nest is active in 2013.

by bruceg