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An Intro to OspreyZone

The Story of DDT

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Bald Eagles Visit Nest

Ospreyzone Highlights: May 21-29, 2020

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Intruder

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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

    52,629 Comments

    1. Betsy April 26, 2016 at 12:27 pm - Reply

      Paul or Aidan (who am I talking to, BTW?!) — thanks, better now. Are your eyeballs falling out yet with our messages “flying” 😀 ?? You don’t need to post — just saying thanks.

    2. PhilK April 26, 2016 at 11:04 am - Reply

      Gracie has been off the nest for over an hour. How long can the embryo survive without warmth?

      • Mickey Martin April 26, 2016 at 8:24 pm - Reply

        It depends on the outside temp Phil. Sometimes a female will sit then get off the egg alot. It is believed she does this to bring hatching closer in time between eggs. A hour isint long if the sun has been out and warmed up the surround seaweed. But a hour is a long time for another bird to swoop in and get the egg or eggs. A experienced parent will be very close though/

    3. BR April 26, 2016 at 10:15 am - Reply

      4/26 10:13am egg has been alone for last 10 min. George showed up with a stick & Gracie flew off followed by George a few minutes later. I think Gracie thought George would take over for awhile.

    4. Jo-Ann April 26, 2016 at 10:05 am - Reply

      Tues. 4/26 9:53 A>M> (EST) I scrolled back to watch what happened in the last 4 hours and saw at about 6:45 Gracie picked up a large stick and placed it on top of that green thorny thing that I was concerned about. Both G&G tried many times yesterday to move it away from the middle of the nest. It has thorns on it so it is caught in the plastic on the left side. It was really annoying them yesterday so Gracie finally decided to secure it. Amazing how she knew it was a problem and found a solution. I hope George brings in some seaweed and covers it up completely. The thorns are still visible.

      Thanks to those who observed that Gracie removed that string from her talon. But unfortunately it is still in the nest.

      • CarolV April 26, 2016 at 1:36 pm - Reply

        1:36pmEDT It was annoying them first thing this morning, too..Glad to hear problem solved..for now…

    5. mrsmadd2 April 26, 2016 at 9:34 am - Reply

      Concerned. Today April 26about 9 am the egg was left unprotected twice this morning. Both Gracie and George left the nest. Is this normal?? I have been watching osprey cams for 3 years and have always seen the eggs protected by at least one parent .

      • Jara April 26, 2016 at 10:39 am - Reply

        10:37 Eastern. I noticed that also. I scrolled back 4 hours and see that the egg has been left alone for long periods of time. I thought that was odd.

        • JP(K) April 26, 2016 at 8:19 pm - Reply

          I remember seeing osprey eggs left alone for quite a while… like hour or so at a time on Island Beach nest cam last year. That nest fledged 3 chicks last year. I thinks its okay.

      • Tora April 26, 2016 at 11:06 am - Reply

        I remember someone mentioning that Bald Eagles will wait to “hard incubate” until all eggs are laid. They will sit on the first egg, but not back-to-back, and will sometimes stand nearby rather than brood. Once all area laid, they will start the back-t-oback brooding.

        I wonder if the same is done with Osprey. It makes sense, in order to keep development as close together as possible.

        • Leesa April 26, 2016 at 5:45 pm - Reply

          Gamma mentioned that Osprey do the same thing. They won’t continually sit on the egg until all eggs are laid to try to have them hatch closer together. So interesting!!

    6. Betsy April 26, 2016 at 9:15 am - Reply

      Michael G. Martin: I am starting this as a new message instead of a reply to your “reply” of April 26th (because the replies and the secondary replies to the replies after the OZ April 25, “2017” was moved to the top, which is then followed by the Aidan April 19, “2017” post and its replies is making everything look out of whack!! Hint hint, Aidan or Paul).

      The easiest way to tell Gracie and George apart, I think, is that Gracie’s feathers look more “patchy” and “unkempt” than George’s.

      George
      Larger ”shield”-shaped marking on front of top of head and “osprey” shape on back of head
      Dark mark halfway up in the center of the inside of each his wings
      Smooth dark wing and tail feathers
      Smaller and more tapered

      Gracie
      Narrower ”cone”-shaped marking on front of top of head, followed by “- =” and rectangular shape on back of head
      Dark mark on right side of chest (sort of heart-shaped) but not on left
      ”Patchy” looking wing and tail feathers
      Larger and more boxy-shaped

      Their eye stripes are different, but these are finer points.

      • Michael G. Martin April 26, 2016 at 9:51 pm - Reply

        Thanks Betty, that will help with Identifying the Ospreys for future posts

      • Betsy April 27, 2016 at 9:17 am - Reply

        Oops, I noticed just now that I hadn’t finished my last line! It should have been: Their eye stripes are different, and although both have speckles on the breast, Gracie has more than George and they’re darker; but these are finer points.

      • Betsy April 27, 2016 at 9:30 am - Reply

        Oh, and Michael, no, it doesn’t appear that George and Gracie changed really at all since their departure in the fall and their return this spring.

    7. Betsy April 26, 2016 at 8:03 am - Reply

      I read something interesting: “Osprey egg temperature is regulated, in response to the environment, by varying the length of time she sits on them. Ospreys can sense the egg temperature with receptors in their brood patches. This helps them regulate their attentiveness (time spent incubating) more accurately. Since the embryo itself increasingly generates heat as it develops, periods of attentiveness generally decline as incubation progresses. Eggs are turned periodically – osprey turn their eggs every 20 to 40 minutes. The turning helps to warm the eggs more evenly, and to prevent embryonic membranes from sticking to the shell. (https://ospreytaleteller.com/2014/05/01/incubation-3/)

      And just to expand on the brood patch: “The brood patch is a bare area on the bird’s stomach where hot blood is close to the surface of the skin and extra heat is generated. Both the osprey parents have a brood patch, although the female’s is larger … The bird can use its skin muscles to open the feathers and expose the patch, which they press against the eggs. Birders are always saddened to find a dead bird with a brood patch because it means the adult had eggs or chicks nearby.” (http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/osprey_cam_blog06/archives/000145.html)

      • Leanne April 26, 2016 at 9:22 am - Reply

        Thanks for sharing that information. Very interesting.

    8. Betsy April 26, 2016 at 6:34 am - Reply

      After “rockin'” around, Gracie hopped back down to nest; George came back a few minutes later with more seaweed and Gracie took off. George on nest now about 1/2 hour. Raining here in Nassau County where I am, but not windy.

      • Betsy April 26, 2016 at 6:45 am - Reply

        Clearing up where I am. Gracie came back a couple of minutes ago. More mating. How is it that George never looks as windblown as Gracie? Brylcreem? 🙂

        • Betsy April 26, 2016 at 7:10 am - Reply

          They’ve been taking turns whooshing out of the nest then returning … FLY AWAY JACK, FLY AWAY JILL, COME BACK JACK, C0ME BACK, JILL

    9. CarolV April 26, 2016 at 6:24 am - Reply

      6:20amEDT 4/26/16 George was in and out a couple of times…Gracie had been standing, watching egg for a while. Geo stayed in, finally, to give Gra a break, then settled on egg about 15mins ago.

    10. Betsy April 26, 2016 at 6:12 am - Reply

      Poor Gracie – it’s raining … she looks so bedraggled. George flew in to nest a few minutes before 6 am with seaweed. Gracie flew up to perch, then George did; then activity and I had to think of CarolV’s “when the camera’s arockin’ don’t come aknockin’” I love how, when it’s really windy, they can just spread their wings and whoosh, up they go!!

    11. CarolV April 26, 2016 at 5:33 am - Reply

      5:30amEDT 4/26/16 Poor Gracie is getting rained on..thunder and lightning, too.May clear for a while, then more rain this afternoon..

    12. Michael G. Martin April 26, 2016 at 2:11 am - Reply

      Hi All
      Sorry for my last post. I have a shortcut for typing and didn’t read the finished comment ( No Glasses )
      Is there any distinguishing markings that we may differentiate from a Male from a Female Osprey. I’ve done quite a bit of research last year along with everyone else. And there were a lot of ways that others use to tell Gracie from George. I a vision problem and it’s hard to distinguish the finer points
      So if anyone has any suggestions that would be great

    13. Helen April 25, 2016 at 10:26 pm - Reply

      Anyone have any ideas as to how to rewind to the time the egg was laid? I missed it.

      • CarolV April 26, 2016 at 5:34 am - Reply

        5:33am There’s a 4 hr. scroll back..Sorry..we both missed it…

        • mrsmadd2 April 26, 2016 at 9:39 am - Reply

          hopefully they will make a highlight clip of the event.

          • Betsy April 26, 2016 at 11:09 am - Reply

            I would imagine so … there were, like, a million comments! 🙂

    14. gracey April 25, 2016 at 7:21 pm - Reply

      I think GRA is the ugliest name for a beautiful bird with a beautiful name like Gracie…

      and I am happy her foot is cleared of that dangerous string…

      Gracie looks so beautiful in the sunset light with her eyes closed…she’s tired…and more eggs to come…

      I love the site the way it is…thank you…7:22 PM EST…NY

    15. GinaM April 25, 2016 at 6:51 pm - Reply

      Monday, April 25 6-6:50 PM
      I am a little concerned about Gracie. She seems at once very restless and then very lethargic. What concerned me the most is that she refused the fish George brought her.
      I am thinking that maybe another egg is coming and she is uncomfortable… I hope that is all it is.
      Has anyone seen her eat today?

    16. CarolV April 25, 2016 at 6:26 pm - Reply

      6:20pmEDT 4/25/16 Got to see George bring in a nice big whole fish about 4:00pm. Gracie left with it, leaving George to take a turn..About 6ish, Geo brought in a 1/2 fish, which Gra said “no, thank you” to, so he left with it…
      I love watching Gracie settle on the egg..she practically does a face plant to get the right spot on her chest over that egg….

    17. Bre April 25, 2016 at 5:32 pm - Reply

      Got in from work around 3:00pm to see comments about the string around Gracie’s foot/scrolled back & did see it..but now its around 5:30pm and string is GONE!

    18. Leanne April 25, 2016 at 5:20 pm - Reply

      April 25- 5:15- Looks like whatever was on Gracie’s leg is gone 🙂

    19. Bre April 25, 2016 at 5:10 pm - Reply

      Woke up this morning and got a present 😉 Gracie had her first egg! before 9am-ish

    20. Betsy April 25, 2016 at 5:06 pm - Reply

      Okay, everyone, we can breathe now — the whatever that was on her leg is off!!

    21. isobel April 25, 2016 at 4:45 pm - Reply

      How wonderful to see the first egg. Whooped with joy!! Congratulations to George and Gracie. Thank you Paul and all concerned for allowing us to enjoy this wonderful experience again.

    22. CarolV April 25, 2016 at 3:02 pm - Reply

      2:58pmEDT 4/25/16. Happy to say I was lucky to be on break AND GOT ONLINE in time to see Gracie standing up and rearranging egg. George was chirping from perch.

    23. Betsy April 25, 2016 at 2:44 pm - Reply

      See my post under Eraftery April 18, 2016 at 2:06 pm. Hope that helps.

    24. Sylvia April 25, 2016 at 2:29 pm - Reply

      There is definitely some black type of nylon? string? fishing line? wrapped around her lower right leg just above her right foot and some dangling threads there too. Appears a bit tight – hope she will be ok. Go back to -1.30 (?) and watch her legs.

      • Leanne April 25, 2016 at 4:44 pm - Reply

        April 25- I noticed it too, right after she had the egg. She seemed to want to move and was tugging slightly with that leg. I’m glad she freed herself but that twine does look awfully tight and I do think it might be bothering her. I just hope it wiggles its way off.

    25. Lorraine April 25, 2016 at 1:25 pm - Reply

      Please someone check out Gracie’s right foot. There is what looks like fishing line wrapped around and has a ‘toe’ locked to the back of her foot.

      • Lisa L April 25, 2016 at 3:55 pm - Reply

        I saw that too. I hope she’s ok……

    26. CarolV April 25, 2016 at 12:45 pm - Reply

      12:42pmEDT I think the”chest rubbing” is just how they part the feathers to get warm skin contact against their skin. And they share egg duty

      • Kathy B April 25, 2016 at 2:17 pm - Reply

        Carol, it’s called a brood patch. Yes, they rub the feathers off so their skin comes in contact with the egg giving it more heat.

    27. lu ann April 25, 2016 at 12:36 pm - Reply

      I just saw an egg 4/25/16 12: 36

    28. Leanne April 25, 2016 at 12:28 pm - Reply

      April 25- Approximately 12:20- George lands next to Gracie with a fish. I guess he didnt want to drag it over to her so he flew off with it over the water, turned around, flew back and landed with a thud right in front of her as if to say “Here. Eat.” She didnt and he flew off. Good effort George!

      • Betsy April 25, 2016 at 4:14 pm - Reply

        Leanne: Just went back and viewed. You described it perfectly!! Been trying to see what is on Gracie’s leg as viewers have commented.

    29. Liz Buniski April 25, 2016 at 12:09 pm - Reply

      Thanks to Paul for all your hard work! Have been watching the site for two years now and it is a major part of everyday, So happy to see the 1st egg has arrived. Good luck to George and Gracie is having a successful family this year. Will be watching as things develop.

    30. Kathryn April 25, 2016 at 12:04 pm - Reply

      Glad to see the new generation of the season.

    31. Jenn April 25, 2016 at 12:03 pm - Reply

      So amazing! Scrolled back to see Gracie lay her first egg! I think it was around 9 am-ish on April 25th! Woo-hoo!

    32. mrsmadd2 April 25, 2016 at 11:59 am - Reply

      about 9 am april 25th George flies in with a branch almost lands on Gracie. She gets up and he spots the egg. He immediately starts tending to the egg.

    33. mrsmadd2 April 25, 2016 at 11:49 am - Reply

      I scrolled back 3 hours to watch Gracie lay her first egg of the season. Amazing

    34. Mike D April 25, 2016 at 11:36 am - Reply

      Looks like she has a line wrapped around her right claw. Monday April 25 app 11am, time to call PSEG again………..

    35. PhilK April 25, 2016 at 11:20 am - Reply

      They have mated MANY times. They were very active. It is my understanding it is very difficult to band the adults unless a trap is set. Sounds dangerous to me but I am no expert. The youngsters before they fledge can be banded but that takes some effort to get to the nest. It would be very interesting to track these beautiful creatures but that is being somewhat greedy. Interfering in nature is never without risk.

    36. karin April 25, 2016 at 11:12 am - Reply

      11:09 G and G are both in the nest,,,,, Grace has something wrapped around her ankle……. I hope she gets it loose soon……. She isn’t really keeping her egg warm yet but maybe she’s uncomfortable…….I’m not sure if the nest has more nesting material than last year or if it’s the closer view……

    37. John Fischetti April 25, 2016 at 11:11 am - Reply

      She’s laid an egg — approx 8:40am!!

    38. karin April 25, 2016 at 11:04 am - Reply

      Apr 25 about 11:02 am
      Hi Paul! Glad you’re back! ……. Just in time for the first egg……. 🙂
      The view from the lowered cam works great for watching the osprey fishing…..

    39. Marlene April 25, 2016 at 11:00 am - Reply

      Congratulations to George and Gracie! Gracie laid her first egg around 8:50 a.m. this morning!!

    40. Jo-Ann April 25, 2016 at 11:00 am - Reply

      April 25 @ 10:34 a.m. (EST) Just got a good look at her foot and there is that black string or whatever that is wrapped around her foot. Hopefully she can remove it . She won’t be leaving the nest now that she has laid an egg but that definitely will be a problem. Also I don’t know when that green twig was brought to the nest but both G&G were trying to move it away from were it is now. It seems to have thorns on it so maybe a piece of rosebush clipping but it is so tangled at the end where the plastic is that they just couldn’t move it .It could be dangerous to the babies when they start getting around in the nest. Hopefully George will continue to attempt to move it and will be successful. They both seemed to be aware that it shouldn’t be where it is. I was hoping that earlier today before it got tangled in to the nest that one of them would pick it up and fly away with ii but they didn’t and now it is a problem as is Gracie”s foot situation. And the drama begins..

      The good news is—She laid an egg today!

    41. Redkayak April 25, 2016 at 10:56 am - Reply

      at 10:50ish Gracie seems to be giving that egg a breather. Full view

    42. cheryl April 25, 2016 at 10:48 am - Reply

      At 9:00am watched the egg laying process. You go Gracie! She was looking around for an OVA-tion (haha) Little does she know there were so many cheering for her!!

    43. Marsha April 25, 2016 at 10:45 am - Reply

      an egg! approximately at 8:45 a.m. Monday 4/25. *yay*!!!

    44. Marlene April 25, 2016 at 10:44 am - Reply

      Hi, Paul, welcome home! You must have hundreds of viewers who are addicted to Osprey Zone. I truly love the glimpses you have given me into nature and getting up close with George and Gracie. And, you sure timed your return perfectly. I see Gracie laid her first egg this year. Congratulations! Thanks to you and Tommy for all you have done for us ospreyites. Living on Long Island, George and Gracie are especially “special” to me. Can’t wait to meet their new babies. Also, your website is the best because of the four-hour window. Thanks, again.

    45. Elaine Kleinhenz April 25, 2016 at 10:43 am - Reply

      There is now ONE EGG in the nest. (unprotected) I’ll give it a time of 10:30 AM give or take.

      • Elaine April 25, 2016 at 10:53 am - Reply

        Looks like I am WAY off the mark…Sorry.

    46. Gamma Carolyn April 25, 2016 at 10:21 am - Reply

      First egg laid approx. 8:40 am Nest still needs work but it is getting there. This male and female have been back the longest of the 6 nests I follow, 4 of which had to rebuild there nests from scratch and not always in the best of weather conditions. One nest had at least 4 inches of snow dumped on it 3 times. 2 nests have 3 eggs so far and 1 nest has 2. 1 nest the female is still waiting for her mate. So this couple is a bit behind. Hopefully they will ( the male now ) will step it up as far as the nest goes , and raise a nice family And maybe if we ask nicely they will quite bringing in the plastic bags :)))

    47. Diane S April 25, 2016 at 10:14 am - Reply

      Approximate slider time on egg, 1:20-1:21!

    48. Betsy April 25, 2016 at 10:06 am - Reply

      Poor Gracie, about 10 minutes after laying the egg, George flew in with a stick that he proceeded to plop right on top of her!!

    49. JP(K) April 25, 2016 at 9:58 am - Reply

      Great to see an egg in the nest at 9:56. Not great to see some kind of black string or line wrapped around Gracies? right foot.. Can’t tell how tight it is around her talons.

    50. Mimsey April 25, 2016 at 9:41 am - Reply

      First egg!!

    51. Jim B. April 25, 2016 at 9:39 am - Reply

      oooooops………..4-25-16. I guess I got too excited.

    52. Jim B. April 25, 2016 at 9:34 am - Reply

      First egg laid at approximately 8:50 EST on 8-25-16!!!

    53. June B April 25, 2016 at 9:31 am - Reply

      We’ve got an egg. Observed @ 9:30 on 4/25/16.

    54. Judith April 25, 2016 at 9:31 am - Reply

      Gracie laid an egg! Or two? Could only see one when she stood up.

      • Gamma Carolyn April 25, 2016 at 10:23 am - Reply

        Judith, Only one at a time. Next one will probably be Wed. or Thur. That seems to be the pattern

    55. kathy B April 25, 2016 at 9:26 am - Reply

      seems it was right before 9am. yay…….

    56. Leanne April 25, 2016 at 9:25 am - Reply

      April 25- I hope I’m wrong but it looks like Gracie has something wrapped up around her right foot. It almost looks like black fishing twine.

      • June B April 25, 2016 at 10:42 am - Reply

        I think its seaweed.

    57. kathy B April 25, 2016 at 9:20 am - Reply

      We have an eggie !!!

    58. Pattie April 25, 2016 at 9:20 am - Reply

      We have an EGG! Monday April 25th, 2016

    59. PattyK April 25, 2016 at 9:18 am - Reply

      9:06am Yippeeee!!!!! Just spotted first egg!!

    60. Leesa April 25, 2016 at 9:15 am - Reply

      George is getting the first look at his egg. He dropped a rather large stick on Gracie’s back when he landed in the nest, which they both moved out of the way. Can someone who knows more than I do tell us about what seems to be a bonding or marking ritual that he is doing? Gracie got up and moved so George could see the egg. He proceeded to check it out, and I’m wondering if he is actually cleaning any thing off of it. then he seems to lay on it and rub his chest on it. Now he is actually the one sitting on it, giving Gracie time to rest I guess. Such good team work!!!

      • Gamma Carolyn April 25, 2016 at 10:40 am - Reply

        Leesa, I don’t know that he really bonding but rather just looking at it. What looks like him cleaning the egg is him poking around the nest bowl to fluff it and ariate the nest . When he lays on it he is probably using his feet to dig the bowl deeper. This helps keep the egg at the right temp as well as makes it more comfy. Most males will spend tim sitting on the eggs just to give mom a break . Some almost try to kick mom off so they have a turn. They may not start to really sit on the eggs full time until they have all been laid in hopes they will hatch about the same time. Sorry about the crappy spelling :)) Hope this helps.

        • Leesa April 25, 2016 at 12:26 pm - Reply

          Yes! Thank you for the information. I’m learning so much from those of you that are more experienced with this stuff. All so very interesting to me, and fascinating to watch for sure. I was so lucky that this morning I was able to tune in at a time I’m normally busy getting ready for work, and got to see the egg laying live! Thanks again for the information.

    61. Will April 25, 2016 at 9:13 am - Reply

      At about 9:09 am I noticed that Gracie laid her first egg. How cool is that?

    62. shredman April 25, 2016 at 9:12 am - Reply

      853am was just checking in and think I saw 1st egg dropped after a little nookie.

    63. GinaM April 25, 2016 at 9:11 am - Reply

      Monday, April 25th at approximately 8:45, our Gracie laid her first egg. George flew in with a stick, saw that he was a daddy, and took over making room in the nest and sitting on the egg. What a honor to be witness to this today.

    64. Lisa L April 25, 2016 at 9:11 am - Reply

      Yay!! The first egg is here around 8:50 am…….

    65. Jo-Ann April 25, 2016 at 9:09 am - Reply

      At about 8:50 a.m. (EST) today April 25th Gracie laid an egg. Yippee!!!!! I have been watching since about 7 a.m. and was concerned because she seemed to have that black string or whatever it is wrapped around her leg. Now that she laid that egg I can’t tell if she is free of it or not. That black whatever was wrapped around her leg last week but she flew off and it stayed in the nest. I hope it isn’t going to be an ongoing hazard. I just looked and she is sitting on the egg and I think I see that black string is still around her leg. In any case we have one egg right now.

    66. BR April 25, 2016 at 9:07 am - Reply

      Apr 25 about 8:45AM an egg!!!! Not sure of exact time I had to scroll back.

    67. Madeline Sharrock April 25, 2016 at 9:04 am - Reply

      Gracie just laid her first egg! 9:00 am 4/25/2016!

    68. Dawn April 25, 2016 at 9:03 am - Reply

      I think I spotted an EGG at 9:03am today!

    69. Karen April 25, 2016 at 9:03 am - Reply

      Approx 8:50 a.m., an egg!!!!!

    70. Candi April 25, 2016 at 9:03 am - Reply

      We have an egg – laid about 8:50 AM 4/25/16

    71. June c April 25, 2016 at 9:01 am - Reply

      Don’t know if it went Gracie’s first egg 8:52…

    72. Sandy April 25, 2016 at 8:59 am - Reply

      04/25/2016 8:58 Is that an egg I am seeing? The parent is just standing there staring at it. In shock? LOL

    73. June c April 25, 2016 at 8:57 am - Reply

      Gracie 1sr egg 8:52 AM

    74. PhilK April 25, 2016 at 8:56 am - Reply

      An Egg has landed!!! Watched the entire event. Perfect..

    75. Tora April 25, 2016 at 8:55 am - Reply

      This morning around 8:45am I was lucky enough to turn on the cam and find her laying egg #1!!!!! Looked like a very uncomfortable process…. but Congratulations mama!!!

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