Nickname
OK Island
Coordinates
(30.3966, -86.5726)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Followers
None
Monitoring groups
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
| 2014 - sailfl | 2013 - sailfl | 2012 - sailfl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 2/15/14 | 2/16/13 | 1/1/12 |
| aOccupied | No | Yes | No |
| aActive | |||
| bEgg Laying | 3/16/13 | ||
| bIncubation Initiation | 3/16/13 | 3/17/12 | |
| cClutch Hatching | |||
| dNestlings | 3 | 4 | |
| eFledglings | 3 | 4 | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 7/1/13 | 6/26/12 | |
| fChicks Last Observed | 9/1/13 | 7/31/12 | |
| xNest Failure | |||
| xReason For Nest Failure | nest destroyed during storm |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2014 2013 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by sailfl
| Adult arrival | 01/01/2012 | Nestlings | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 4 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 06/26/2012 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 07/31/2012 | |
| Incubation initiation | 03/17/2012 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2013 Nest Activity Report by sailfl
| Adult arrival | 02/16/2013 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/01/2013 | |
| Egg laying | 03/16/2013 | Chicks last observed | 09/01/2013 |
| Incubation initiation | 03/16/2013 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2014 Nest Activity Report by sailfl
| Adult arrival | 02/15/2014 | 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 | nest destroyed during storm |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
03/31/2014 by sailfl
This platform nest was destroyed or blown apart in 67 MPH straight wind storm 3/28/14 The platform is still there but I noticed that the Ospreys are starting to rebuild two poles down. I did not approach so that there was no additional stress added.
03/09/2014 by sailfl
They are back and I am glad to see them. Noted Mating behavior today and continued nest building 3/9/14
03/31/2013 by sailfl
Well new nesting season has started for 2013 I have seen both Ospreys in and off the nest for the past few weeks. Saw the female on a nearby lamp pole this morning. I have not seen any mating or sitting on the nest behavior.
09/08/2012 by sailfl
Well we know that all 4 fledged and and were last seen in and around the nest up until the end of July. They were seen with parents honing their fishing skills on both the bay and gulf side. Since around the 2nd week of August it has been difficult to tell Who's Who with out a play list since other Osprey fledges are beginning to disperse into the area.
07/14/2012 by sailfl
Well the Parents have been very busy keeping up with group. For the past 3 nights the fledges have been practicing their fishing skills, flying and complaining when 1 has food and the other doesn't. I saw all 4 with parents in locale of nest, although it seems 2 or 3 have moved over to old nest but one still favors the platform.
07/09/2012 by sailfl
Its been a few days and TS Debby blew through the area. I have been able to see the Juvie's from the road up till yesterday. So I pulled in and watched and waited and waited some more. No heads popping up and no parents. I noticed that a lot of the nesting material that was hanging over the edge of the platform was missing. Panic started to set in because there is some minor construction going on around the area and the county just approved a fish hatchery to be built for the same area. Anyway I disgress, I pulled in today and what I thought was a parent turned out to be 2 of the 4 Juvie's sitting in the old nest. and 1 popped up on the platform. So I know that there are at least 3 still there.
06/27/2012 by sailfl
Amazing there are 4; yes 4. It has taken many weeks and some still sy there were 5 but today I was able to capture pictures. One even fledged (picture of parent and Juvie on pole). Great Job P's!
04/15/2012 by sailfl
This is year round pair that I have been following; My understanding is that they have have at least 2 other nests in the past 2 years.