Nest #9051

Nickname

Tennis -OLHS

Coordinates

(36.7716, -75.9838)

Substrate

Sports Lights over Tennis Courts

Description

There was another nest in this area in the past years (reported by another Osprey Watcher-Ball Field Lights), I didn't see that one, but did observed this one.

Followers

None

Monitoring groups

Chesapeake Bay Osprey Watchers, Virginia Aquarium

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.

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Activity reports

	2023 - awhisperofwind
aAdult Arrival	4/2/23
aOccupied	Yes
aActive
bEgg Laying
bIncubation Initiation
cClutch Hatching
dNestlings
eFledglings
eFirst Chick Fledging
fChicks Last Observed
xNest Failure
xReason For Nest Failure

Adult arrival	04/02/2023	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

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

05/29/2023 by awhisperofwind

Aerial Winds have been substantial the past few days. Surf/fishing waters very rough. Female to the side of the nest, VERY vocal. While looking through scope and seeing her vocalize, another vocalization, much quieter came from the nest. Very confident there is atleast one chick in the nest. Did not observe Male while there, but she was obviously waiting for fish and calling. Will return. Photo updated.

05/07/2023 by awhisperofwind

Did not see an Osprey in the nest, although if she is laying flat I don't think I could. No vocalizations heard, but Osprey seen fishing a nearby pond. There is, however, alot of droppings on the tennis court directly below the nest. Will check back. Photos updated today.

04/02/2023 by awhisperofwind

I had visited this nest a couple weeks ago, and noted no new activity. Today, however, there is new nesting material (including fish netting) - and both Male & Female are present. Witnessed Male bring in a fish to the nest where female was sitting, he dropped off and left again. She vocalized when he was near, or flying overhead. Updated photos uploaded of today.