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Bald Eagles Visit Nest
Ospreyzone Highlights: May 21-29, 2020
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OspreyZone Yankee
March 18, 2016 Timelapse
The Summer of 2015 by GinaM
Osprey Rescue Extended - July 30, 2015
Osprey Zone Highlights - June 28, 2015
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osprey 07/11/15 squirt
First Sighting
George and Gracie's First Baby
Eggs Over Easy
Changing of the Guard
Breakfast is Served
Upgrading
Feeding Time
First Love
Let's Hang Out
Hard to Get
Little Brother
Intruder
Dinner is Served
OspreyZone Montage

OspreyZone Highlights: George Returns
Tip: If the nest is empty, use the red scroll bar to rewind the stream up to 12 hours
March 2022: We are anxiously awaiting the return of the ospreys!
Please be advised that nature can be brutal – viewer discretion is advised.
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Special Thanks to Tommy and Christina: George & Gracie’s Landlords
Belle’s Journey
Written by Dr. Rob Bierregaard & Illustrated by Kate Garchinsky
Take flight with Belle, an osprey born on Martha’s Vineyard as she learns to fly and migrates for the first time to Brazil and back–a journey of more than 8,000 miles.
IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts
I haven’t seen the little guy yet this morning, but I would be very surprised if he survived the night. That sure was tough to watch yesterday, but that whole process is as much a part of the essence of being an Osprey as is eating a fish. It’s part of the life of Ospreys that was rarely seen before we started putting cameras in nests. As hard as it is, we should not label the behavior as mean or cruel. Being mean or cruel implies that there is intent to do harm just for harm’s sake. Those young were responding to a set of stimuli (very little food being delivered to the nest and the presence of a very small young) in a way that evolution has hard-wired into them. It helps ensure their survival. Nature is not cruel. It is harsh, unforgiving, and often random (had the little guy been born 1st, he would have been just as aggressive as was his sibling), but not cruel or mean.
Paul Henry ospreyzone July 1, 2015 at 8:17 am
Thanks Rob for bringing your knowledge and experience to help us all gain perspective here. We are all saddened by the events that unfolded before our eyes and it’s only natural for all of us to feel and express our emotions appropriately. There have been many issues pertaining to intervention which have been discussed amongst us all. There is no doubt in my mind that the right decision was made, to let nature take it’s course. By the way, that doesn’t equate to heartless, on the contrary, nobody feels worse about this then the apparent decision makers. I say apparent, because when all was said and done, and all the issues were properly weighed, there really weren’t any other options. It was clearly pointed out, by experts, that intervening at this stage could have spooked the whole nest to the point of losing all the young. If the little one was saved, and nursed back to health, what kind of a life would it have had, perhaps caged up in a zoo. I remember when I was younger I saw a golden eagle in captivity, caged behind a wire mesh. I could practically see it’s tears. As far as placing the little one in another nest, such a low probability of success would never have justified the possibility of spooking the nest. There’s a piece of me, however heavy hearted, that believes that perhaps it is better to be born free and die free. We mourn for the little one as we marvel at the wonders of nature.
Hello Paul,
Thanks for your query, and you have my admiration for persevering. We know very well how tough your job is, including dealing with an anxious public.
Our policy with our Bird Cams project is essentially “just say no” to pleas for interference. The behavior you are witnessing – while seemingly cruel and heartless to us – is natural for many kinds of birds, especially those that feed on variable, unpredictable food supplies. The little nestling does have a chance to survive, but if it does not then that result was “meant to be” by the nature of Osprey breeding strategy. The wonderful things about these nest cameras also sometimes yield the difficult things for us to watch. As you might know, we actually post a “siblicide alert” on some of our cams where we suspect the possibility exists.
I’m copying your note to Charles Eldermire, project leader for our Bird Cams. He may have some additional comments, and he would be the one to ask if we might be able to use your stored files for biological analysis.
Best wishes, and good luck,
John W. Fitzpatrick
Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
It’s also important to acknowledge that intervening can also cause problems of its own—depending on the ages of the birds in the nest, disturbing them can trigger an early fledge. We have restricted the scenarios in which we would even consider intervening to injuries or dangers that are explicitly human-derived. For example, 3 or 4 years ago we were alerted by viewers that one of the osprey chicks at the Hellgate Osprey nest was entangled in monofilament line. We consulted with our partners there (wildlife biologists, raptor researchers, raptor rehabbers) to determine if the monofilament was an issue, and if intervening was both likely to solve the issue AND not have bad effects on the other nestlings. In the end, a quick trip to the nest was scheduled via a bucket truck, the monofilament was removed, and the nestlings all eventually fledged. In that case, all of the permits were already in hand to be studying the ospreys, and we had already discussed how to approach issues in the nest.
Good luck to the young one—hope it all turns out well.
charles.
*******************
Charles Eldermire
Bird Cams Project Leader
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
I’ve been to your site—great cam! And I noticed the runt in the nest. This is just normal Osprey reproduction. It happens all the time and you should not intervene. It’s tough to watch, but it’s how nature works. Ospreys almost always lay 3 eggs and on average fledge between 1 and 1.5 young each year. They stagger the hatch so there is a spread of ages in the young. That way, if food is short, the first-hatched (and therefore largest) will get enough food to survive while the smaller nest mates do not. If all three young were the same size and there was only enough food for 1 young, none of the young would get enough food and they would all die. If there’s lots of food, the smallest will eventually get fed and can survive. These nest cams can show some gut-wrenching scenes. The most infamous perhaps was one of the very first Osprey cams (on Long Island somewhere), where the smallest young died. One of the adults carried it out of the nest and after several minutes flew back into the nest and fed it to the other young. Waste-not-want-not at its goriest. At Hog Island up in Maine just last week a Bald Eagle came in and took the young out of the nest. Last year at another nest, cameras documented a Great-horned Owl taking young Ospreys out of a nest in NJ or MD. All of these things have been going on for millions of years and Ospreys are doing fine.
Rob Bierregaard
Academy of Natural Sciences
Drexel University
http://www.ospreytrax.com
Greetings, looking forward to a great season.
I have 2 requests:
1) Please restrict postings, images and videos to only about the Ospreyzone nest.
2) When an image or still is shared, please don’t crop out the bottom line with date and time etc. I need it to be able to come back for being included in highlights. Also, my copyright is important to me.
Please note that I encourage you to point out highlight worthy moments, as I can’t see everything but I’m hoping to keep up with the nest this year in our highlights. I also have an Osprey intro and a history of The plight if the Osprey , made by some of my students recently, to be published shortly, stand by.
Many thanks.
Paul
TY, Paul! Looking forward to video… your students always do an interesting story.
Happy Friday!
Quick run through on computer and no sightings…
The sun was peeking in at times, making pretty patterns on the bay and beautiful cloud designs.
Too bad I can’t get synchronized! Phone doesn’t do roll back and I can’t seem to take pics on computer… hate to always make excuses!
This year, I‘ve had severe sinus issues and have maybe 3 brain cells to fire up . Cannot figure out where everything went! Talking tech issues but also works for brain!
May have temporarily found way to get to photos from earlier in n day! It’s a long and winding road but until I find a better idea….. this is shot from this morning taken about 2:30pm…and I can edit!
Sort of stumbled… um,….. navigated to a back door. Now better make notes or….
Now I’m exhausted!
AND the sun came out…!!! HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE!!!
Paul– the videos were very well made. Thanks for sharing them with all of us.
Hi all.
When should we expect the first hatching? Seems like it should be soon.
All tucked in and listening to very peaceful bird songs….
Temps 61-62 all night. Winds from S@6mph.
Possibly of showers 4-8am.
HAGN, everyone!
.
Earlier G was casting his shadow again. This is his place now, keeping L company and guarding his nest. Very domestic!
And then he went a’huntin’!
Look at that nice fish! Lucy should be busy with that! Just wish she’d get better grips!
Off she went…
After that flurry of activity, G looks a little shellshocked but he’s soon on the eggies
This was a fish delivery and I managed pics of Lucy announcing and fluffy pants…
But at least we know she got it!
Thursday morning… the usual trading places, with Lucy holding her place more.
G staying close.
Temps holding around 63-64 with winds@10mphSE
X
Lots of grass and seaweed for trades came in.
–
Hehe… he thought I was going….
Thanks for the commentary, as always, CarolV!!
Good night ospreyz
Good night Lucy
George’s shadow covers Lucy as he comes to perch.
Looks relaxed
GN, Ms. Lucy
About 53 now. Temps hovering within a few degrees all night. Light winds @3mph from the SE
Everyone, HAGN!
George with a whopper dinner fish for Lucy.
Lucy wondering what George is alarming about
Sometimes I think he likes to hear himself talk 😆
BRUNCH!
George now delivers on that right rim making it difficult to get a good shot of the fish but Lucy held it up for. Us…..
Off she went
George took over and got comfy
Lucy was back
No reaction to first try… 2nd approach
.
And out as L gets settled
She is many times camera cooperative
Knows what her fans want!
Wonky feather alert 🪶!
Lucy a little squished as she fits in with the skateramp…..
G is upstairs sounding off… just another osprey day, with lots of sun….
Temps about 56 heading to 63 or so w/ from the E@6mph
Z
Lucy was out 5 mins or so… little bit of exercise.
George was a bit reluctant but Lucy not about a feather tug or talon tap….
Lucy angled in and settled. G stayed nearby to let everyone know where he was……
Headed up
The exchange
Get up George!
Lucy sporting late spring fashion
Fashion alert… shows the rogue feathers influence so fashion forward this season!
Group of get-up…. That 3rd photo… we’ve all had that 👀 look at some point! Either counting mentally or playing muzak in her head… patience patience patience……
Lol!
Sleeping beauty
Good night Lucy
Ospreyz
Lucy settled in for night
Almost 9pm and temp 55… just dropping a few more cool degrees to 52 by dawn under overcast skies; winds from E@8mph
HAGN!
She looks so pretty in this lighting….
Just after I posted Lucy’s glamour shot, handsome hubby brought dinner!
They stayed on right but you can just see fish before L took off….
MrFluffypants takes over
Changing of the guard
Lucy takes a break
George settles in
Too close for comfort
Lucy nudged George with her “foot” to get George off the eggs
upstairs… downstairs
Enjoying their penthouse nest with a view
Fish for lunch!
Good one… she was trying to get a good grip. It had seemed she lost an earlier fish as she was back within minutes of delivery
G is still annoyed by the wall Lucy worked on
Lucy brought back some fish to eat at home…
I think G was hoping for leftovers
Lucy was out getting seaweed
She chose some lovely art pieces
And ushered G out…
Ty for that tail shot, G!
Is that a satisfied smile?
Bay to “table”…nest
🎣
Fish for lunch
Trading places continues…
G has a small stick…to add to that big one. Is the ramp really necessary?
He pushed Lucy out again and is dismantling her wall…. Clashes with his ramp…
Good morning, Ms. Lucy . Perfect morning for snoozing in…
A partly cloudy day, 57 now headed to mid60s with winds @9mph from the NE
Lucy is keeping busy futzing…:: she’s got a little wall in the works.
I think G was taking off as Lucy brought in that brick of muddy stuff by her feet…. I think modern muddy seaweed is her design aesthetic
George back with double claws of reeds and pushed Lucy out
L never stays away for long….. and ignores him the rest of the time….
He retired up above to yell at the skies…
Ospreyz 💤
This was odd. Didn’t see this bird coming in but it just stood like this for a couple minutes. As it took off, Lucy took off behind it…. Was she just backing up G or chasing someone? Hate missing part of the story! Lucy was right back and you could see. The bird flying back to the left.
Wind out of the SE @8mph . Temps dropping to 55 under cloudy skies.
.
–
Looking at George…who just flew to perch
What do you think? Alfalfa? Or a Hershey’s kiss?
Going with kiss cause she’s so sweet!
Of course, it’s just a stick behind her…
Alfalfa — lol! I was a big fan back in the day!
Enjoying the breeze….but not the gnats
Lucy on the lookout.
Much cooler day… should stay lower than 70…. Wind coming from the NW@11mph. Much easier on the birds. In general, looks like a good week of seasonal weather
Happy Monday!
.
Lucy takes a break
Tucking in for the night
Lucy had some nestorating to take care of before she settled. She’s got to be feeling so much more comfortable as temps settle back to where they should be.
Everyone, HAGN!
Yammer time… G must be nearby….
She’s watching that stick as it wobbles with the wind…..
And here it is! Big fish dinner and Lucy needs the moisture…. And off she goes
And play time with the kiddles
Temps falling… cooler 61
By dawn…. Wasn’t long ago when that was the high for the day!
About 74 now, with winds from the S @10mph
Think stick bothers her as much as us
Better one stick then George’s usual collection!
No words… at least not that I can put here….
Got excited… Lucy and that beautiful tail pushing stick out of the way….
Was just a teaser…..
Lucy comes; George goes
Panting from the heat
Sounded like Lucy was on perch
Lucy getting a nice breeze
George on the job… slowly cooling down…. 80@3:30
Lucy letting in what breeze there is… temps are about 84… with breeze almost straight out of the south. There’s the difference between North Foork and South Fork and being close to ocean… only about 69 by me.
George is upstairs letting the neighbors know he’s there…..