The osprey station on a post was constructed in early 2021. That spring a pair produced three chicks, all fledged successfully and left for the south in summer. In 2022 the same pair returned, produced three eggs but the male was killed by an eagle, and the female after three days, left the nest to feed her nest temporarily. During her absence, two crows came and ate all three eggs. The female osprey hang around the empty nest for several days, but eventually left.
In early March 2023, the female osprey returned to the nest, but a couple of Canadian geese displaced her and occupied the nest. The human owner intervened and scared the Canadian geese away. The female osprey.. now we call her Matilda..immediately returned to the nest. A total of three male ospreys fought over Matilda’s nest, and eventually a male (we named him Oliver) succeeded. The couple produced three eggs. The menhaden fish Oliver carried to Matilda ware on the average only 2-3 inches long, compared to 2021 observation when the menhaden fish on the average were 5 inches long. After listening to Dr Watts talk during the Colonial Beach Osprey festival about supplemental feeding, we stated to give one frozen sardine a week to Matilda. Although only two chicks were born, they are growing ok.
