Coordinates
(36.8443, -76.175)
Substrate
Cell Tower Platform
Description
Large nest in the Cell tower located off Business Park Drive, adjacent to the lake. This tower is also near the Interstate 264E. Approaching the Witchduck Road exit.
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
| 2015 - Reese | 2015 - OWadmin | 2014 - Reese | 2013 - vabeachlil |
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aAdult Arrival | 3/31/15 | 10/8/15 | | 4/26/13 |
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aOccupied | Yes | No | No | No |
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aActive | | | | |
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bEgg Laying | | | | |
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bIncubation Initiation | | | | |
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cClutch Hatching | | | | |
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dNestlings | | | | |
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eFledglings | | | | |
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eFirst Chick Fledging | | | | |
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fChicks Last Observed | | | | |
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xNest Failure | | 10/8/15 | | |
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xReason For Nest Failure | | nest destroyed by substrate loss | | |
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Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2015 2014 2013
Activity reports
2013 Nest Activity Report by
vabeachlilAdult arrival | 04/26/2013 | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2014 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2015 Nest Activity Report by
ReeseAdult arrival | 03/31/2015 | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | |
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2015 Nest Activity Report by
OWadminAdult arrival | 10/08/2015 | Nestlings | |
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Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
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Nest Active | | First chick fledging | |
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Egg laying | | Chicks last observed | |
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Incubation initiation | | Nest failure | 10/08/2015 |
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Clutch hatching | | Reason for nest failure | nest destroyed by substrate loss |
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Nesting Diaries
Copulated in the nest March 31 - see photo
A pair of Bald Eagles are in the process of taking over this Osprey nest. They have been bringing nest material to the cell tower for more than a week. See photos that I have posted. The female is just becoming 5 years old. She has dark feathers in her tail. The female Osprey did arrive and on Feb 28 and Mar 1 was seen stooping on the eagles. The Osprey has not been seen for the past 4 days.
It he date of pair arrival is just an estimate, I drive by this site daily and had noticed Osprey in the air near the lake, presumably fishing, due to the time of day I see them. I noticed the nest about three or four weeks ago, but assumed this nest had already been reported. The nest is Huge!