Nesting Diaries
Neither of these birds are back from migration as of 3/24/15. Seems kind of late for this pair.
Heard an osprey in the back of Deep Bottom, about 100 yards from this nest today. Could not locate the osprey. May have been from this nest, but doubt it. It was the first osprey I heard this year.
Been watching Miss Ally and Katlin for a number of weeks now. Their nest looks solid and they have been incubating for weeks now. No activity that would suggest any egg hatching yet, but soon I am sure. They have been pretty solid over the last couple of years with their offspring productivity.
Miss Ally & Katlin are definitely building their nest in the same tree that the last two nests were in. In the crook of a tree that hangs over the river, at the mouth of Four Mile Creek at Deep Bottom. Funny how they can find a spot in a tree that appears to have none left and construct a solid foundation for their nest. They have lost two nests in the last two years. The last one falling during a winter storm sometime over this past winter. Two years ago their nest fell in a bad storm just after their two chicks fledged. Happy to report that all four osprey survived that summer storm and both chicks learned to fish, grew strong and flew south for their first migration later that year.
On another note ... there are so many osprey arriving, almost daily. It's wonderful to see. Almost can't keep up with all the birds.
The photo posted is of Miss Ally, the female osprey who is awaiting the return of her mate. She brought a branch to the tree their nest used to be in and placed it near the top of what is left of the tree, but has not brought any more. She seems to be waiting for her mate to return to choose a location to rebuild.
This nest is dedicated to the crew of the Miss Ally. Five young, experienced, fishermen from Nova Scotia who recently lost their lives at sea in a violent storm off the southeast coast of their home port of Woods Harbour, N.S. The town of Wood Harbour and many of it's neighboring towns are grieving, but their loss will eventually turn into mountains of inspiration for all who knew them and for those who were touched by their story.
The crew between the ages of 20 and 32, Capt. Katlin Nickerson, Steven Cole Nickerson, Joel Hopkins, Tyson Townsend and Billy Jack Hatfield will forever be remembered on the James River through a pair of osprey, who happen to be the best fishermen on the river.
For more information on the Miss Ally and their crew, simply google "Miss Ally" and you will learn more about the story of these wonderful fishermen.
-Capt. Mike