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An Intro to OspreyZone

The Story of DDT

Osprey Rescue

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Bald Eagles Visit Nest

Ospreyzone Highlights: May 21-29, 2020

OspreyZone Highlights: May 15-20, 2020 - The Intruder

OspreyZone Highlights: May 7th-14th, 2020

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March 18, 2016 Timelapse

The Summer of 2015 by GinaM

Osprey Rescue Extended - July 30, 2015

Osprey Zone Highlights - June 28, 2015

Osprey Zone Highlights - June 19, 2015

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

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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.

Click HERE for more information!

IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts

Rob Bierregaard July 1, 2015 at 7:24 am
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.

4818eecc88292926c58414a82c884c71Paul 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.

Reprinted with the permission of John W. Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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

In addition, Charles Eldermire, Bird Cams Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Writes:

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

Paul,

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

“Interesting. They don’t often take over osprey poles—probably too small for them. They will coopt tree nests, which they can expand. We had a pair of eagles do this on the Vineyard. They built up the Osprey nest a lot and then the Ospreys came home and drove the eagles away, in a David v. Goliath story. The Ospreys successfully bred. They looked tiny in the nest, which sadly blew down this winter.”

    Leave A Comment

    52,585 Comments

    1. sera July 7, 2017 at 11:22 pm - Reply

      George arriving with fresh grass.

    2. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 9:21 pm - Reply

      Skies are clearing and almost full moon is rising…..Making for a pretty Saturday…..Wishing everyone good night and good morrow…..and I sound like I slid back to Shakespeare’s days………

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 9:46 pm - Reply

        Just got better and better……………

    3. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 7:20 pm - Reply

      @18:50
      ………George is inspecting his wall

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 7:21 pm - Reply

        Let’s try moving this here……………….

        • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 7:23 pm - Reply

          Oh, look…………..how handy! The perch is right here!!!

    4. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 7:17 pm - Reply

      Gracie singing to George as he flies toward nest…………….

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 7:18 pm - Reply

        George delivers to porch…..dining room of choice lately…..

    5. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 6:49 pm - Reply

      Gracie in with another balloon- looks like larger one…..ribbon attached

    6. Rjoneal July 7, 2017 at 6:22 pm - Reply

      7-7-17 After some fish, a little bonking and pecking best friends again. Babies fall asleep and notice the head position, crazy ospreys.

    7. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 5:15 pm - Reply

      Chick (#2?) tries to gulp down a tail…was having trouble this time…

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 5:17 pm - Reply

        Gracie came to pick it up and encouraged shorty to take it back but he wouldn’t so she made the sacrifice to swallow it herself…….

        And the lens is so clear!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

        • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 5:19 pm - Reply

          THOSE BRATS BETTER KEEP THOSE BUTTS POINTED IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION BUT AT US!!!!!!!

          Pretty pretty PLEASE! With fish scales on top?

    8. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 5:07 pm - Reply

      MAD AS A WET CHICK……. Dominant chick{#1?} watched as sib ate and warned him who was boss….2nd chick tried again, was warned a bit “louder” and stepped aside.

    9. Gordon July 7, 2017 at 4:40 pm - Reply

      No. 2 (I assume) is now noticeably smaller than No.1 and it will only get worse as the larger chick exercises its dominance. More equal distribution of food required…

      • Betsy July 10, 2017 at 3:33 am - Reply

        Gordon: Chick #2 will be slightly smaller than chick #1 — that’s normal at this age. Chick #2 has been getting plenty to eat; sometimes, but not always, it waits for chick #1 to get fed. Depending where they are in the nest will make one look way larger than the other (angle perspective). Look at the horizon — if the horizon really looked like that, Earth would be really small and people in the Middle Ages wouldn’t have thought that the Earth was flat!.

        Here’s a link showing chicks at 4 weeks — look at the size difference: https://www.cumauriceriver.org/pages/ef-slide/ef-11.html

      • Betsy July 10, 2017 at 6:50 am - Reply

        See, Gordon? This is chick #2 getting fed and it looks way bigger than chick #1 now!!

    10. CarolV July 7, 2017 at 4:30 pm - Reply

      Just logged in for today to see 2 chicks being fed by a beak…
      ……..and eggbert went for a (st)roll………

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 4:33 pm - Reply

        picture

        The weather here today was dizzle all day. About 2 or so, there was a real downpour and it rained for about an hour. Looks like there was similar weather on the Nort Fork…the nest looks soaked.

    11. Rjoneal July 7, 2017 at 2:49 pm - Reply

      7-7-17 Love how the egg is making its rounds all around the nest. I call it the babies Yoga Ball.

      • Monica July 7, 2017 at 5:58 pm - Reply

        LOL!! I haven’t logged on in a few days. I was curious about the egg.

        It certainly is ‘visiting’ all over the nest. I was wondering what G&G would do with the unhatched egg.

        So, what’s new with our family?

        • Rjoneal July 9, 2017 at 10:43 pm - Reply

          7-9-17 Hi Monica, CarolV cracks me up she calls it the Eggbert. I think the babies had so much fun laying on it and playing with it Gracie left it in the nest for them.
          Well I am attaching a pic of some good wingercising and both the babies have been standing and walking more and more everyday in the nest. They get around pretty good considering all the clutter around them. Which by the way we still have 2 or more different kinds of ribbon in the nest, some kind of material towel,blue foil think could be balloon,Gracies newest addition the yellow thing not sure if paper cup is still in the nest or not. Rain cleaned the camera lens off so we can see again. You really start feeling buggy when you look at all the creepy crawlers in the nest more than we ever had. (I will attach pic were you can see really good cause they are on the yellow thing EEK.) George is still getting chased by crows and intruder comes around at least 1x a day still maybe even more that I miss. Baby1 is still eating all the time and is a porker and defiantly has a bottom less pit for a stomach and crop. That thing looks like it is just going to explode sometimes. Baby1 I think it was does not strike right away he/she gestures and vocalizes his/hers disappointment of baby2 eating so baby1 gives warning usually. There has been a couple of Bonking and pecking along with beaking each other but all normal and hardly any at all. Soooo much more tolerant of each other than last years babies* (We love you Brutus,Ali,&Rocky) *and a good reason being the fish is always overflowing and there is only 2 of them competitions is no way as fierce as when there is 3 fighting for food.
          Take care nice talking with you
          Love my Osprey Family and Followers! HUGS

          • Rjoneal July 9, 2017 at 10:45 pm - Reply

            Here is the pic were you can clearly see all the critters on the yellow thing but they are swarming the nest. Yuk would not want to be in that nest.

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 9:50 pm - Reply

        The Spirit of Eggbert!

        • Rjoneal July 9, 2017 at 10:47 pm - Reply

          CarolV do not know if this is a duplicate message or not but love (The Spirit of Eggbert) made me laugh and smile tks 🙂

      • Monica July 8, 2017 at 6:05 pm - Reply

        In this picture it looks like Gracie is looking at the egg.

        Today I see that it’s getting closer and closer to the edge of the nest.

        I wondering if George or Gracie will push it out one of these days.

        The chicks have grown so much!! I’m glad there’s no fighting between them. Well, I haven’t seen any pecking between the two.

        • Rjoneal July 9, 2017 at 10:53 pm - Reply

          Monica forgot to mention, you are right Gracie is looking at the egg, to me it is like she is waiting for it to move,jump,or come alive and do something the way she is staring at it. lol

    12. Rjoneal July 7, 2017 at 2:47 pm - Reply

      7-7-17 Gracie really is the best momma Osprey covering the babies.

      • MargaretR July 7, 2017 at 5:31 pm - Reply

        Aweee love this picture Ranay!!

        • Rjoneal July 9, 2017 at 6:29 pm - Reply

          7-9-17 Thanks MargaretR our sweet family.

      • June c July 7, 2017 at 7:45 pm - Reply

        They really got soaked today…She is such a good Mom

    13. Betsy July 7, 2017 at 9:37 am - Reply

      Gracie huddles with her chicks in the rain. Good mama!!

    14. Betsy July 7, 2017 at 8:01 am - Reply

      Gracie catching her balance after slipping on the wet plastic

    15. Betsy July 7, 2017 at 8:00 am - Reply

      Chick #1 gets the fish tail down

    16. sera July 7, 2017 at 7:17 am - Reply

      One of the chicks got the tail end….will get to eat it after Gracie and the other chick have had some of it 😃

      • Betsy July 8, 2017 at 11:54 am - Reply

        Sera: That was so cute watching the chick walking along with it!! “So, how do I eat this?”

    17. Betsy July 7, 2017 at 6:05 am - Reply

      Hi again Aidan! The thumbnail feature isn’t working again (since last evening — although it still continued to show thumbnails from another day the rest of yesterday 😀 ). I checked out other webcams this morning and the thumbnail feature is working on those sites. I hope this info helps you figure out why “ours” isn’t working. Thanks Aidan.

      • Aidan July 7, 2017 at 10:58 am - Reply

        Hi Betsy, I made a new stream that seems to fix the problem. Reload the page to get the new one!

        • Betsy July 7, 2017 at 1:17 pm - Reply

          I see them Aidan. It’s perfect now! Thank you so, so, so, so much!!

    18. CarolV July 6, 2017 at 9:41 pm - Reply

      George brings in a late fish @:27pm

      • CarolV July 6, 2017 at 9:43 pm - Reply

        Sorry- I forgot my 8 sticks sometimes…..that’s 8:27

    19. CarolV July 6, 2017 at 8:14 pm - Reply

      20:07- Junior enjoying the wind beneath his wings….
      This seems to be Gracie’s new favorite seat so I guess we’ll get used to her with 1/2 a head.

      Betsy- noticed you chatted with Aidan about the thumbnail feature…I’m getting nothing there at all..it does make searching a lot more difficult…Maybe when further comments post there will be an explanation or solution…?

      • CarolV July 6, 2017 at 9:46 pm - Reply

        As one chick monopolized the feeding, the 2nd mad one grab too many…..

        • CarolV July 6, 2017 at 9:48 pm - Reply

          BACK UP, LITTLE SNATCHER!!!!!!!!!!

          • CarolV July 6, 2017 at 9:52 pm - Reply

            Off to the corner with him…..hung out by the porch. Waited till bully-boy ate and settled before he went for his share….Gracie was feeding til almost 9:15pm

          • Bre July 7, 2017 at 10:35 pm - Reply

            LOL CarolV Love It !! You made my day!

      • Betsy July 8, 2017 at 11:55 am - Reply

        CarolV: Yeah — solution by wonderful Aidan!!

    20. CarolV July 6, 2017 at 7:34 pm - Reply

      Buddha belly—

    21. Nancy July 6, 2017 at 4:08 pm - Reply

      Any decision on names for these two ?

      • CarolV July 7, 2017 at 4:39 pm - Reply

        Sometimes we make up nicknames…the official naming usually happens around fledge time…..we can suggest names and the admin chooe from among them..

    22. Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:12 pm - Reply

      Is it my imagination ….

      • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:14 pm - Reply

        or are the chicks getting cuter by the second?

        (Top picture chick #1 is closest to the camera and this picture is chick #1)

      • Trinity July 6, 2017 at 5:27 pm - Reply

        Wow almost 30 posts in the last 24 hours by you ! Hope you get outside away from that screen and enjoy the summer.

        • Betsy July 7, 2017 at 10:45 am - Reply

          Yes, Trinity, I do! I go back and watch the video sped up (or tape when I’m out) and grab screenshots of the things that catch my eye!!

          • Betsy July 7, 2017 at 10:46 am - Reply

            Oh, yeah, that’s one of the reasons I miss the thumbnail feature!!

      • June c July 7, 2017 at 8:36 am - Reply

        Hi Gracey..Thank you for sharing a happy ending story….so many sad stories this year of chicks who did not make it..

    23. Rjoneal July 6, 2017 at 10:39 am - Reply

      7-6-17 Here is a screenshot of baby and he has egg tucked by him under wing. Look,can you believe he was once in an egg that size? Sooo cute when they stretch their legs and wings out.

    24. Rjoneal July 6, 2017 at 9:49 am - Reply

      7-6-17 More bad news for Ospreys the Charlo Montana youngest chick dies 7-5-17 was having problems not able to cast a pellet difficulty breathing increased leading to complete respiratory failure.
      RIP little guy he or she was so healthy and full of life, you just can not predict nature and it was so unexpected for something like this to happen.
      Life is very precious,we need to live it to the fullest.
      You will always be remember by many.

    25. Rjoneal July 6, 2017 at 9:20 am - Reply

      7-5-17 Oops,did not mean to make so big, forgot to reduce size. Sorry Aidan,and Paul I also forgot the Osprey Zone Logo. Guess I need to get another cup of coffee, not moving very fast today.

    26. Rjoneal July 6, 2017 at 9:17 am - Reply

      7-6-17 Good Day OZ Followers, I just love when the sunlight hits our Osprey family.

    27. Betsy July 6, 2017 at 7:06 am - Reply

      Chick #1 looking up at the camera. Is that not one of the cutest faces you’ve ever seen?

      • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 3:52 pm - Reply

        Chick #2 looking up at the camera. Is that not also one of the cutest faces you’ve ever seen?

      • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 4:05 pm - Reply

        George came in with a clang and a c-r-r-r-a-c-k with this big stick …

        • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 4:07 pm - Reply

          apparently hitting the perch or the camera housing, this piece suddenly flying through the air!

        • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 4:09 pm - Reply

          And, where does he put it?? In the left lower corner — as if they need any more branches in that corner!!

    28. Betsy July 6, 2017 at 6:59 am - Reply

      Gracie was nibbling at the camera housing! I guess she was so hungry for breakfast she was desperate!! 😀 😀

    29. Betsy July 6, 2017 at 6:43 am - Reply

      An intruder tried to land on the nest. Gracie jumped down from the perch to stop it!!

    30. Betsy July 6, 2017 at 6:11 am - Reply

      Hi Aidan. The thumbnail feature on the scroll bar isn’t working. I know a lot of us use that. I remember last year that happened and you fixed it. Would you be able to fix it again for us? Thanks!!

      • Aidan July 6, 2017 at 9:42 am - Reply

        Hi Betsy, it seems to be working for me right now. Is it still not working for you? Maybe try reloading the page if you haven’t.

        • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 11:50 am - Reply

          Hi Aidan! Seems to be fine now. Thanks!!

          • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:18 pm - Reply

            Actually, Aidan, I just now noticed this: The thumbnail usually matches up with the point in time on the scroll bar that you’re hovering over, but it isn’t doing that — it seems to be ahead! (I hope you can tell from my attached picture.)

            • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:24 pm

              Let me revise that statement!! — not ahead, but just off, because, now, at the 12:22:19 mark, it still shows 11:40: something!! 🙂

            • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:24 pm

              Forgot my picture!!

            • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 12:42 pm

              You’re gonna hate me!! I was checking it out further and it seems to be thumbnails from a different day altogether!! Hard to read the date and time on the thumbnail but there’s no clear blue sky at all today!! 😀 😀

            • Aidan July 6, 2017 at 4:09 pm

              You’re right, that’s really strange! It might be a temporary issue with YouTube that will fix itself, but I will see if there’s anything I can do.

            • Betsy July 6, 2017 at 4:11 pm

              Thanks Aidan!

    31. CarolV July 5, 2017 at 9:40 pm - Reply

      George came in to a Gracie free nest and started to enjoy his fish. He had about 2 mins. till Gracie came in and a tug o’fish ensued. Don’t you two know you shouldn’t fight in front of the kids??

      • CarolV July 5, 2017 at 9:43 pm - Reply

        Is that the insidious yellow ribbon working back to the surface….back by Gracie’s tail???

    32. CarolV July 5, 2017 at 7:51 pm - Reply

      One chick got the tailfin and was determined to swallow it. He worked several minutes and would not allow Gracie to take it….another step in growth milestones…

      • CarolV July 5, 2017 at 7:53 pm - Reply

        An another fish from superdad…..

    33. CarolV July 5, 2017 at 7:28 pm - Reply

      George keeping up the good work with another good sized fish….it’s in the right corner attached to George’s foot….Gracie took it to the porch and all we can see right now are wiggly happy chick butts….

    34. CarolV July 5, 2017 at 6:59 pm - Reply

      @15:23—George brought in one of the biggest wads of nest material I have seen! Mix of grasses that filled the scene as he dropped in!

      It’s so nice having the video back!!! And tons of comments. It’s gonna be a while before I catch up! Too bad I’m not on vaca!
      Did the 4 hr. scroll back and saw plenty of eating, preening and general happiness…LOVE IT!

      Thanks to Aidan and admin. for getting things up and running! Good to know we don’t have to worry about the !@#$% balloon!

    35. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 6:30 pm - Reply

      I have no idea what this is … Gracie pulled it out of the no-see-corner. It looks like a long cloth strap of some kind!!

    36. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 5:40 pm - Reply

      The chicks watch Gracie as she flew past in front of the nest. Chick #2 is on the left.

    37. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 3:38 pm - Reply

      CarolV: Wow, I was looking at comments on the previous page (we’re now on page 63, so the comments on page 62). I think the pixilating video must have been on your end!! 😀 The video was fine for me! And, the color of your pictures from that time span is all really weird!!

      • CarolV July 5, 2017 at 7:16 pm - Reply

        I took those shots from the rewinding video while the camera was down…maybe that was the problem? Had been fast forwarding and rewinding several times….Who knows? Just thought was an interesting outcome.

    38. Karen D. July 5, 2017 at 2:27 pm - Reply

      Just check out ALL of those feathers! WOW!

      • June c July 7, 2017 at 8:39 am - Reply

        Hi I was away for 5 days with no wifi and could not believe my eyes on their feather growth..even talking now and trying to stand..amazing!

    39. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 1:09 pm - Reply

      I didn’t hear Gracie or George (who had shortly before flown off with the fish he had wrestled away from Gracie) give any alarm calls but something must have scared the chicks because they suddenly pancaked!

      • Betsy July 5, 2017 at 1:18 pm - Reply

        Pancaking is when the chicks flatten out to avoid detection — either when a parent gives an alarm call or when the chicks are frightened.

        “… during an osprey’s alarm call, the chicks in the nest will often immediately lie down and attempt to keep very still. This is an instinctive response to the alarm, known as “thanatosis” or playing dead. The chicks will usually remain in this state until the alarm call stops. However, the young are usually curious as to the reason for the alarm call and sometimes poke their heads up to check out the scene.” from https://sites.google.com/a/eckerd.edu/ec-osprey-project/general-osprey-information/osprey-calls-1

        • Kathleen July 17, 2017 at 4:47 pm - Reply

          Hi Everybirdy, especially Betsy! Thanks for the info re ‘pancaking’ (7/5) I am amazed that the parents are able to send a signal and splat – flat as a pancake. God in His infinite wisdom…

    40. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 11:52 am - Reply

      Gracie getting a hold on the fish George brought

    41. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 11:51 am - Reply

      Gracie bringing another branch to the nest

    42. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 10:25 am - Reply

      Chick #2 is 4 weeks old today. It looks like s/he’s been doing some serious standing attempts — even eating a little this morning while standing!!

    43. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 10:23 am - Reply

      Gracie did mantling after taking the fish from George. I looked at my notes from last year and she had started mantling then at about the same time, around July 7th!!

    44. Betsy July 5, 2017 at 10:21 am - Reply

      I’m glad to see the camera is back up and that George and Gracie and the chicks made it through the 4th of July safely. In this picture Gracie is taking the fish George just delivered.

      Thank you Paul and Aidan!

      • RobininMD July 5, 2017 at 7:52 pm - Reply

        Must be that 4th of July is a hard weekend for the birds to fish with everyone on the water… glad all is well and they are making up for lost fishing time today!

    45. Rjoneal July 5, 2017 at 9:44 am - Reply

      Aidan, Aidan hello, if you are reading the comments and able to post, Please, Please post something and let us know if our Osprey Family is ok? Last picture we saw Gracie had brought in a deflated large balloon with long ribbon attached to it, really hoping the ospreys did not get tangled in it. If you are unable to communicate due to tech problems I understand since obviously we all know you are doing your best to fix problems. Thanks for all you do hope to hear something soon.

      • Aidan July 5, 2017 at 10:02 am - Reply

        Hi RJ, the stream should be back up. Of course our stream went down on a holiday when nobody was around to fix it! Apologies for the inconvenience. Fortunately, it seems the balloon is gone.

        • Rjoneal July 5, 2017 at 11:19 am - Reply

          7-5-17 Thank you Aidan for the quick posting and response. A big Thanks for getting the live cam back on line with extra bonus of a little from this morning. Was so happy to hear that balloon was gone and now I can see it is gone wheh !

    46. Betsy July 4, 2017 at 10:53 pm - Reply

      Look at the size difference in just 1 day shy of 4 weeks!! The older chicks picture is from July 3rd and the little chicks picture is from June 7th! In both pictures chick #1 is on the left side. Believe it or not, the little chicks picture is cropped from a picture the exact same size as the older chicks picture and they’re in the same position as the original uncropped picture of them!!

      • Betsy July 4, 2017 at 11:11 pm - Reply

        A different perspective

        • LynD July 5, 2017 at 8:21 pm - Reply

          Just love the comparison pictures Betsy! They are so awesome (you have great skills) and show the tremendous growth of these little buggers in just One (1) month! Kudos to the G & G parents for such a superlative job in tending and feeding this family.

      • Betsy July 5, 2017 at 12:19 am - Reply

        Don’t believe it!! 😀 My computer shifted the little chick picture to the right when I copied it to make the composite!! I suppose it’s just a minor technicality but the correct picture, I think, looks better!! 😀

        • Betsy July 5, 2017 at 12:20 am - Reply

          Like they’re sitting on the oak leaves!! 😀

    47. CarolV July 4, 2017 at 6:39 pm - Reply

      DAAAADD…that tail is in my way!!!

      Missing the live feed……………………..

    48. CarolV July 4, 2017 at 11:36 am - Reply

      Getting to know more OZ fans thru my job….SHOUT OUT to all the OZ watchers who stop in King Kullen, Cutchogue, to say “hi!”

      Special hello to Kevin and his wife, Dee…..

      • Rjoneal July 5, 2017 at 11:59 pm - Reply

        7-5-17 ok CarolV- HI Kevin and Dee,glad you are watching our osprey family and you got to see our CarolV. Keep watching !

    49. CarolV July 4, 2017 at 9:59 am - Reply

      Oh. Look. A graduation balloon. Hope they had a nice day. But someone failed at respecting the eco-system.

      Have been going back thru comments and pictures since video is on rewind. Nice to do when I have some time because I always miss things when I’m scrolling thru or if a reply or comment comes in later. Really appreciate all the comments and all the time taken to make this such a good community!!!

      • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 10:24 am - Reply

        The Suffolk Times -the local weekly- has a photo page and I posted this. Don’t know if it does any good. But……had to try.

        • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 11:20 am - Reply

          Also posted on a comment section for The Times fb page

        • Rjoneal July 6, 2017 at 12:01 am - Reply

          Good for you CarolV sometimes it only takes 1 person to make a big difference. Thanks for doing that from all of us Osprey Zone Followers.

    50. CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:58 am - Reply

      a Cubist look of chicks in melee–thanks to pixilating video…

    51. CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:47 am - Reply

      The video is on rewind from last night.

      Here’s a dominance display over a bit of fish George is handing out…..chick notes other chick being fed by Dad

      • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:48 am - Reply

        HEY!!!!!

        • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:50 am - Reply

          Fight—-fight—-FIGHT

          Mom: Now, kids………

          • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:54 am - Reply

            Gracie gets a bite while brats are busy…………

            • CarolV July 4, 2017 at 8:56 am

              Yay ME!

    52. Betsy July 4, 2017 at 7:47 am - Reply

      Gracie was terrified when someone shot off fireworks relatively near the nest, throwing her wings up in the air in alarm.

      • Betsy July 4, 2017 at 7:59 am - Reply

        The chicks stayed hunkered down in the nest. I don’t know where George was.

      • Betsy July 4, 2017 at 8:02 am - Reply

        At least it was comparatively brief, lasting from 9:39:45pm, when the first fireworks went off, to 9:44:48pm when the last one went off. There were no more in the vicinity, at least up until the time the camera went down at 10:24:52pm

    53. Betsy July 4, 2017 at 7:37 am - Reply

      It was amusing to watch Gracie flying in with a huge clump of …

    54. CarolV July 3, 2017 at 10:10 pm - Reply

      July 9th Full Buck Moon 12:07 am

      – The Full Buck Moon – July………….. July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month’s Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

    55. CarolV July 3, 2017 at 9:50 pm - Reply

      Well—there they are…..

      I’ve seen an adult fly in at least 2 times, so far but the chicks seem o.k.

    56. CarolV July 3, 2017 at 9:25 pm - Reply

      One chick using that %*(&#)### balloon for a pillow……

      The fireworks are sounding all around this part of town. Heard some last night that sounded like an organized display and at a distance. Tonight it sounds like multiple locations and closer. Stevie the cat is m.i.a. Harry the dog is anxious but holding it together….Nope- someone started with a mini-cannon nearby and Harry is not happy about that.

      Hope the fireworks in East Marion have found a new beach this year….and no ospreys are disturbed.

    57. Mickey Martin July 3, 2017 at 9:23 pm - Reply

      7/3/17 9:18pm………Both chicks are in nest. Ive watched what looks like a mylar balloon in the center of the nest bowl now for about 45 minutes. Mom just flew away. I`m sure she will be back very shortly. Weather outlook, is dry and warm. = good fishing 🙂 Safe and Happy 4th ya`ll.

    58. Rjoneal July 3, 2017 at 5:53 pm - Reply

      7-3-17 Well just every once and awhile we get a glimpse and a view of our Osprey Family. They are doing like they did in the year 2015 staying on the right side edge of nest and out of camera view except every now and then. Maybe the wind is blowing that way and they prefer to cool off facing the wind who knows. Now that balloon has a stick and some nest debris on it really was hoping it would blow away hopefully it does. Lots of canoes and boaters out there hope everyone is being safe.
      Have a good 4th July !

    59. Betsy July 3, 2017 at 10:23 am - Reply

      Oh no! Gracie brought what looks like a Mylar balloon with a ribbon to the nest. I hope it blows away (and that someone finds it and disposes of it properly in the trash!).

    60. Marilyn G July 3, 2017 at 10:04 am - Reply

      What is that foil in the nest & how & when did it get there? I see this on an iPad so I can’t scroll back. Hopefully is will blow off!

    61. Rjoneal July 3, 2017 at 9:53 am - Reply

      7-3-17 Monday Morning Blues- Gracie brings in a deflated balloon with ribbon attached,this is not good. Just when we thought that stupid green ribbon was finally buried in the nest for the 100th time now we got more ribbon. Wish people could not sell balloons or people would realize how dangerous it is with all the human stuff they admire.
      Keeping on the edge of our seat again here we go.
      Positive it does look like a nice day there.
      Talons crossed nothing happens and that balloon gets blown off the nest.

    62. GinaM July 3, 2017 at 9:32 am - Reply

      OMG look at that mylar balloon! This is an extremely dangerous situation!

    63. Dawn July 3, 2017 at 8:58 am - Reply

      Please don’t tell me that’s a MYLAR balloon in the nest!

    64. Betsy July 3, 2017 at 8:30 am - Reply

      The nest had been quiet for the past few days, but yesterday chick #1 gave chick #2 some real hard peckings!

    65. Kathy B July 3, 2017 at 8:15 am - Reply

      BALLOON and ribbon in nest ! UGH…..hope the wind blows it out.

    66. Betsy July 3, 2017 at 6:09 am - Reply

      Chick #1 is 4 weeks old today – halfway to flying!! 🙂 🙁

      • Betsy July 3, 2017 at 8:33 am - Reply

        Chick #1 eyeing the perch. In 4 short weeks it’ll be able to get up there. It’s probably thinking “Can’t wait,can’t wait, can’t wait … “

    67. sera July 3, 2017 at 5:38 am - Reply

      Breakfast arrives, thank you George ☻

    68. Helen July 3, 2017 at 5:33 am - Reply

      It was still darkish so I could not be sure but right now it appears, Gracie is feeding George who is then passing his morsels to the chicks. Sort of an assembly line…..

    69. Rjoneal July 2, 2017 at 8:58 pm - Reply

      7-2-17 Babies must be hungry, big baby just went after the lil guy and kept on bonking him,even out of view of camera you could still see his tail feathers going up as he was continuously bonking and or pecking. Think he got mad since George was trying to get fish and Gracie was feeding George or just wanted to make sure he made his point that he is the dominant one in the nest. Point taking and lil baby stayed down.

    70. CarolV July 2, 2017 at 7:39 pm - Reply

      BTW—no rain in the forecast till Thurs. night into Friday…….

    71. CarolV July 2, 2017 at 7:01 pm - Reply

      @ 18:49…..George is such a good provider—

    72. CarolV July 2, 2017 at 6:17 pm - Reply

      Needlefish (family Belonidae) or Long Tom[1] are piscivorous fishes primarily associated with very shallow marine habitats or the surface of the open sea. Some genera include species found in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments (e.g., Strongylura) while a few genera are confined to freshwater rivers and streams, including Belonion, Potamorrhaphis, and Xenentodon.[2] Needlefish closely resemble North American freshwater gars (family Lepisosteidae) in being elongated and having long, narrow jaws filled with sharp teeth, and some species of needlefishes are referred to as gars or garfish despite being only distantly related to the true gars. In fact, the name “garfish” was originally used for the needlefish Belone belone in Europe and only later applied to the North American fishes by European settlers during the 18th century.[3]

      I was just curious as to the difference between gar and needlefish. That crazy guy who searches for “River Monsters” has gone after gar in SA, where they are HUGE! As most species, there are different varieties and types.

      Needlefish, I was surprised to find, have caused the deaths of humans. Lights, on the boats of night fishermen, have caused schools to become frenzied enough to jump out of the water over the boats. Unlucky victims have been impaled in an eye or even stabbed in the heart….
      So to see these fish flailing that nose around makes me just a little anxious! Good to see G&G are fairly adept at dispatching them….

    73. CarolV July 2, 2017 at 5:18 pm - Reply

      Hey, Redkayak—was that you off to the right! Did you feel lie you were being watched??? Lots of head waggling aimed in your direction!

    74. CarolV July 2, 2017 at 3:23 pm - Reply

      14:46—Fish delivery….

      • CarolV July 2, 2017 at 3:26 pm - Reply

        Gracie came for it and took it to the left bottom corner. For whatever reason, she spent several minutes wrestling with the fish.

        • CarolV July 2, 2017 at 3:29 pm - Reply

          George watched her; looked out over the bay and took off.
          He was back at 14:58 with a second fish. Gracie dropped her play toy and went for the new fish

          • CarolV July 2, 2017 at 3:38 pm - Reply

            So George took the old one. I couldn’t get a picture to show how many bugs were under that fish! I believe “the nest was roiling” would best describe it!

            The chicks hadn’t shown any interest but George took that fish over to them and it appeared (by bobbing tails) that they ate. Gracie happily munched away on hers.

            • CarolV July 2, 2017 at 3:43 pm

              My error—apologies to Gracie…..she was the one who slipped into the neutral zone to feed the kids

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