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The Story of DDT

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Bald Eagles Visit Nest

Ospreyzone Highlights: May 21-29, 2020

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Eggs Over Easy

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Intruder

Dinner is Served

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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. Betsy May 2, 2016 at 6:14 am - Reply

      I see George took over from Gracie about 45 minutes ago — don’t see any apparent wounds on George — Gracie took off and George is still messing with that root! … A starling landed on a branch near George, George looked over at him, and the starling said “I’m outta here!!” … I hope the bully doesn’t come around today!!

    2. CarolV May 2, 2016 at 5:41 am - Reply

      5:30amEDT 5/2 George drops in so a damp looking Gracie can get out for awhile…Gracie had been quietly sleeping with her beak buried in her shoulder feathers…George can’t sit quietly, as usual, and starts moving anything in reach.

      • CarolV May 2, 2016 at 6:26 am - Reply

        6:21am Heeerrreee’s Gracie…….pretty landing front and center..George out to work…me,too,shortly..Have a good day !

        • CarolV May 2, 2016 at 6:32 am - Reply

          I wonder if thoughts of sunny South America are drifting thru Gracie’s head……..

          • CarolV May 2, 2016 at 6:51 am - Reply

            6:47am ish George made brief appearance flying around nest..Must be nearby “cleaning” the morning catch, as Gracie has a lot to say…

          • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 10:19 pm - Reply

            CarolV: Re: South America: Maybe that’s what all her constant chirping to George when they first came back to the nest was all about – she was telling him all about her stay there and practicing her Spanish with him!!

    3. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 9:38 pm - Reply

      At about 5:50 pm, George returned to the nest with a very small piece of fish for Gracie (not just headless, but almost to the tail!) which she flew away with – doubtful to some place dry as was still raining. I still couldn’t get a good look at George’s chest to see if he had any injuries. George turned the eggs and then incubated them for ~20 minutes until he got up to turn them again and fuss with the plastic, tucking some pieces around and under the eggs. Gracie returned about a minute after George resumed incubating the eggs, as he started fussing with the root-y thing near him. Gracie proceeded to grab the root-y thing and move it over, away from George, but he reached to try to fuss with it some more, until he gave up. Gracie seemed anxious to get back on the eggs, but George was slow in getting up – so she pulled on the feathers on his side to get him moving (she must have watched the Maya video on YouTube! :D). She then settled on the eggs. I still couldn’t see George’s chest as he got up off the eggs to fly away – because there was a big raindrop on the lens right there blocking visibility!! There was no further commotion at the nest and the last I could see of Gracie as it got dark was her sitting on the eggs, sopping wet and looking so pitiful!

    4. rjoneal May 1, 2016 at 8:36 pm - Reply

      5-1-16 Sunday afternoon poor g&g labor, coldness and rain along with attacks what a bad day. After getting lots of pictures in slow motion and watching in slow motion Betsy has exactly what took place I also sent her my pics. If anyone would like some just let me know I have put my email out there already so I would be more than happy to share I have a bunch. Looking at size of the intruder leaving and his claw way bigger and darker you know the intrud is a much older male who is prob the one who attacked Geo before he approaches Gracie but never attacks I think he wants to take over the nest he either lost his mate or is still trying to find one. We could be in trouble when the babies are born if he is still around it wont be good with intrud being the older male he may continue to try and take over. I really hope this is not a sign of what will be coming.
      Bye the way glad to see some posts from some old timers that I know from last year just to name a couple Trinity,Leanne, Mitchell,Phil,Gamma,Ann,June C,Bre,and all those who I didnt mention glad your posting and following our family glad your watching again this year.

    5. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 8:33 pm - Reply

      8:31pm..The unexpected special effects add to the fun of this site…the lights down below are flickering thru the raindrops like everchanging stars…..

    6. Bob May 1, 2016 at 8:12 pm - Reply

      I’m not sure how comments are being dealt with this year. I can see two eggs being kept warm but the comments seem to lag behind by days. I don’t really care, but, last year seemed much better. Obviously, after some nice weather, the wind and some rain is back. Does anyone know if food has been available? The parents need to eat, too. Also, whenever I go to the site I have to scroll up through all the comments before reaching the birds. Does anyone else have this problem? Regards to all.
      Bob

    7. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 7:16 pm - Reply

      7:11pm According to my weather app, rain should ease off, with one or two brief showers overnight..Then two days to dry out before the next batch.But in general, most of the week shows rain…especially over my long weekend off…should have put in that potting shed I was considering last fall…………

      • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 7:17 pm - Reply

        I’ve been posting on two pages, here and 28..guess everything will find it’s way….

    8. Leesa May 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm - Reply

      I see we have a third egg in the nest!! Yeah Gracie! Wasn’t able to get on the site until this afternoon, so I hate I missed the blessed event, but glad it is here!! I did scroll back to see George deliver a very large fish to Gracie about 3:40, I think, and he took over nest duty. She came back after awhile, and they swapped again. George came into the nest a bit after 4:30 to give Gracie another break, and after only minutes an intruder flew almost into the nest. It was quite a scary site to see George defending his territory, and realizing that they were possibly fighting. Gracie flew into the nest in a few minutes, then George returned soon after and I didn’t notice any wounds. Hopefully there was not any actual contact with the other bird. George brought Gracie a small amount of fish at 5:45, and she flew off with it. He is really doing a great job providing for her so far. Praying the supply of fish remains high once the eggs hatch and they have 3 new mouths to feed!

    9. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 6:12 pm - Reply

      About 5:55pmEDT Gorgeous George brought an evening snack for Gracie and is on the eggs now…You can see the water beading on his feathers…looks like it’s pouring

    10. LynD May 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm - Reply

      I too was secretly wishing for only 2 eggs this year. 3 days apart for each egg. That means first hatch has 6 days of life, before #3 hatches. #3 is the “low man on the totem pole”. Unless there is a huge increase in fish and fishing from last year, I fear the same result as last year will likely occur. Rooting for this family, as the two parents have this horrible weather to contend with (lots of wind, lots of cold). Not a great start, for sure. Driving through the area yesterday, on the way to Orient, I must have seen at least 5 -6 osprey nests that were visible from Rt. 25. Seems like this area should be renamed Ospreyzone!

      • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 6:56 pm - Reply

        6:46pm I was hoping for 2, also. But that’s no guarantee of no drama…The nest I watch at work, for at least 6 seasons, has a success rate of 3,2,1,0,0,1..Watching from below, I had no idea of what was going on up there…and I have no correlation to the fish populations those years. I did think the female changed around yr.4..it’s not unusual for a “new “pair to be unsuccessful..we got lucky with G&G.
        Other posters, Betsy maybe, mentioned that the first eggs were not continuously incubated, in effect kept cool, to slow down embryo growth…so hopefully, the hatch span may not be that great….The count-down is on !!!!

      • Bobbie May 1, 2016 at 7:22 pm - Reply

        Is there a third egg? If so, I missed it.. What time?

        • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 9:15 pm - Reply

          Sunday, May 1st, at 7:46 am. There are videos below if you want to watch.

      • June B May 2, 2016 at 10:16 am - Reply

        I’m guessing we had a third egg. Yesterday? Let’s hope it stops at 3.

      • June c May 2, 2016 at 11:24 am - Reply

        Not necessarily so. Incubation period is 35-42 days..hopefully they will not be exactly 3 days apart.

        • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 9:13 pm - Reply

          June C: Have you ever heard of eggs not hatching in the order in which they were laid?

    11. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm - Reply

      About 50 minutes ago, shortly after George took over incubating the eggs, an intruder swooped over the nest; George leapt up off the eggs at him, smashing back into the camera and then taking off after the intruder. Gracie returned to the nest after a minute or so, and as she was settling on the eggs, she looked up and squawked at what must have been the intruder (could see only feet going across at topmost camera view); then the intruder flew over the nest down toward the water. With that, George landed on the right edge (our right) of nest — but I could get only a partial profile of him. George then flew off, only to return a few minutes later to try to mate with Gracie, but she wasn’t having any of it (and that says it all about George — he must be OK!) Still waiting to get a good look at George … I hope he’s not injured like the last time! It may be hard to tell, though, since it was raining pretty good (poor Gracie on the nest) and the camera lens is spotted with rain drops.

      • GinaM May 1, 2016 at 6:53 pm - Reply

        It was amazing to see.

        • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 9:08 pm - Reply

          I captured a 12-minute video of the whole drama! I wonder if the intruder is harassing any of the other area ospreys. I hope he stops!

    12. Darlene Cepeda May 1, 2016 at 5:40 pm - Reply

      Some cam sites are charging a yearly fee to stop the spammers and appeal only to those who really are interested in viewing the cam.
      They also list the rules for chat and if they are not strictly followed the person is no longer allowed to participate. A modest fee certainly should not be objectional and could actually help defray the cost of a moderator. Just suggestions. Although I seldom engage in the chat myself I do enjoy reading what others have to say regarding the Osprey and current events dealing with the Osprey’s activities. So it would be sad to have to eliminate the comments completely due to inconsiderate spammers.

    13. Leanne May 1, 2016 at 4:54 pm - Reply

      May 01- Approximately 4:45- There seems to have been a surprise attack on Gracie while she was decorating the nest. She actually flew out of nest and left eggs but returned shortly after. While she was back in nest it appeared intruder flew overhead again but George showed up moments later.

      • Leanne May 1, 2016 at 6:26 pm - Reply

        Correction- It was George and not Gracie who was in the nest.

    14. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 4:34 pm - Reply

      And, for those who missed it, George and Geacie’s 3rd egg (May I P&/orA?):

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ms_PVT780

      • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 4:37 pm - Reply
        • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 5:49 pm - Reply

          Oops – that’s supposed to be Gracie … that’s what happens when you’re trying to keep your 11-month-old kitten from playing with the keyboard!!

          • CarolV May 2, 2016 at 6:21 pm - Reply

            6:15pmEDT ish 5/2 Got home in time to see George bring in a partial fish for Gracie. Made me hungry for dinner…not fish, thank you!!

            • CarolV May 2, 2016 at 6:24 pm

              Somehow, I replied to you,Betsy, by accident. But I was meaning to tell you how good you’re doing with your video posts…Thanks !!!

      • Susan May 3, 2016 at 8:53 am - Reply

        That was great, Betsey, thanks so much for posting that video!

    15. Mitchell May 1, 2016 at 4:25 pm - Reply

      Hope there is more drama to watch in the nest this year

    16. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 3:41 pm - Reply

      Boy, George sure is bringing a ton of stuff to the nest today! … Someone in East Marion is going to come out of their house, look at their garden, and ask, “Where did all of my weed barrier go?? … And the local neighbors are going to ask, “When was a skyscraper built??” … Hopefully, we’ll still have a view, even if it’s a partial view, into the nest!!!

      • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 6:38 pm - Reply

        6:35pm Betsy, I read the first two words together and had a flash of our George in a funny hat and odd hairdo, Like Boy George…..good for a chuckle…….

        • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 6:46 pm - Reply

          CarolV: Oh, yeah … I hadn’t noticed when I wrote it that it looked like “Boy George”! Don’t forget the eyeliner!! 🙂

    17. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 2:41 pm - Reply

      2:38pmEDT 5/1 George delivered lunch..Looked like he left the whole thing for Gracie…

      • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 2:59 pm - Reply

        2:54pm On scroll back, I see George was busy picking up staples…he stopped at the stick store, the scraggly root and stalk emporium and,of course, the plastic sheeting suppliers…..

        • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 4:52 pm - Reply

          4:43pm Gracie was back about 3:10…The raindrops rolled off George as he stood up…about 4:07, George brought in sticks and grasses together…Rain building up on the lens..George came in for the switch about 4:42 and Gracie went out for a “walk”…

          • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 5:02 pm - Reply

            about 4:45pmEDT Just as George was settling in, he alerted to something incoming..claws could be seen coming in from above on the right..George was knocked back and into the camera…He went out to defend and Gracie came right in to cover the nest..Tne attacker was seemingly still above but was seen flying over and out toward the water. George was right in to check on the family….

            • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm

              on rewind, it was a long, scary wait for Gracie to hightail it in there. Even knowing she was coming, the wait was nervewracking!!!

        • GinaM May 1, 2016 at 6:55 pm - Reply

          Nerve wracking it right!!

        • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 8:51 pm - Reply

          You kill me!!! 😀

          • Betsy May 2, 2016 at 8:53 pm - Reply

            I mean to CarolV’s staples comment!!

    18. Trinity May 1, 2016 at 2:23 pm - Reply

      It’s such a pleasant feeling to have the osprey parents back on LI where us viewers can watch Mother Nature do her thing. 🙂

    19. Kathy B May 1, 2016 at 1:18 pm - Reply

      sun may 1st. 1:15 pm. Looks like George brought Gracie something green for the nursery. He’s such the romantic !

    20. Ann H May 1, 2016 at 1:15 pm - Reply

      I see the 3rd egg has arrived! Nice to know that Gracie is so fertile. However, I am concerned about the ability of this nest to support 3 chicks. I am VERY worried about a replay of the painful events of peewee last year.All we can do is hope and pray that George’s fishing skills are improved. And that fish are plentiful this season-bunkers hopefully will live.
      ( I was secretly hoping for only 2 eggs this year)

    21. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 1:09 pm - Reply

      I was just scrolling back and at the -3:15 mark (so it would be about 9:50 am) I saw something I hadn’t noticed earlier – George landed in the nest to sit on the 3 eggs for the first time. As he was folding up his wings, Gracie was just spreading her wings to fly out of the nest … the tip of her wing got caught in his folded wing … “Can I please have my wing back now ??? Thank you.”

    22. Kathryn May 1, 2016 at 12:54 pm - Reply

      Yes there is 3 eggs hope a better outcome then last year.

    23. Kathryn May 1, 2016 at 12:41 pm - Reply

      I just log in and Gracie was just moving in the nest . Tell me that I thought might have seen 3 eggs hope not don’t want a repeat of last year of lesser.

    24. Marlene May 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm - Reply

      George is just amazing me with the amount of plastic he is bringing to the nest today. I really think that it helps insulate Gracie and the eggs against the cold wind. It is very nasty here today, and it must be more so at that height. It’s like a raincoat!!

    25. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 12:13 pm - Reply

      about 11:45amEDT 5/1 As George rearranged that last clump he brought, the greenery side flipped up to show it was a bouquet for Gracie…must be a push-present..or early Mom’s Day,,…Gracie’s turn to be out…wind is whipping up…can’t tellif rain has started yet, but it’s due….

    26. Bre May 1, 2016 at 12:11 pm - Reply

      and there it is…EGG number three! 😉 😉 😉

    27. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 11:35 am - Reply

      about 11:25amEDT George drops in with an in-front-of-cam landing and a double clawful of nesting…gentle chirping conversation..11:30 George has his orders, so he’s out

    28. Gamma Carolyn May 1, 2016 at 11:23 am - Reply

      I am going to let someone else figure this out . Unless you already have as there are no new posts showing as I write this. It is 8:16 am PDT ( 11:16 EDT ) I have scrolled back 3:28 minutes to see the 3 rd egg laid. I guess that would make it closer to 8:00 something EDT.

    29. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 10:44 am - Reply

      10:32amEDT 5/1 Momma’s home…Dramatic in-your-face entry and a clawful of seaweed…George’s turn for exercise…

    30. Leanne May 1, 2016 at 10:35 am - Reply

      May 01- Gracie has third egg….with George’s help?

    31. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 10:17 am - Reply

      George took over incubating the eggs about 20 minutes ago … seems to be having some uncertainty about how to sit on 3 eggs!! 🙂

    32. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 9:58 am - Reply

      9:51amEDT George came in for his turn….He ha been in around 9:30 and kind of leaned into Gracie, which may have been an offer to take over, but she just stayed. I haven’t seen any mating this a.m. so I;m guessing 3 is enough..And standard…..

    33. Gamma Carolyn May 1, 2016 at 9:54 am - Reply

      At around 7:15 EDT ( doing the math backward from my time and the scroll back is difficult ) female laid her 3 rd egg. She was almost forced off the nest bowl by the male who wanted his turn so the 3rd egg was laid up a little higher on the nest. This was right after he brought in more of a plastic garbage bag. Maybe people need to put lids on there cans !! :)))

      • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 7:12 pm - Reply

        Gamma Carolyn: I get confused sometimes myself figuring out the scroll-back time, and I’m right here on Long Island!! I couldn’t imagine having to take into account time zone difference! Gracie did the last push at 7:46 am EDT. I couldn’t agree more — people need to, first of all, PUT their trash IN garbage cans and then cover the can with the lid!

    34. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 9:53 am - Reply

      Gracie rolled the third egg next to the other two and is resting comfortably on the eggs and George has brought three more HUGE sheets of whatever that stuff is that he seems to be so fond of bringing to the nest … it’s cloudy … so, maybe to use as rain gear?

    35. Marlene May 1, 2016 at 9:50 am - Reply

      Well, Gracie lays her third egg around 7:48 a.m. this morning. Poor mommy! George decides to sit on the the other two eggs, so she has to lay the egg elsewhere in the nest. Then, he proceeds to bring up loads of plastic and takes off. What a messy nest! I wonder if he wants to shield his family from the rain that is forecast for today. Now they will have to move the new baby to where the other ones are.

    36. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 9:32 am - Reply

      9:25amEDT 5/1 so I have egg#1 4/25 8:50am
      #2 4/28 7:11am
      #3 5/1 7:46am That would be, optimistically, June 2-3 as beginning of hatch-watch if I have all this right……

      • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 5:59 pm - Reply

        We need one of those count-down calendars!! 😀

    37. june c May 1, 2016 at 9:15 am - Reply

      around 8:25-8:30 Gracie puts egg with others..

    38. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 9:11 am - Reply

      9:00amEDT 5/1 Happy May…I see #3 is here but I missed it! Now I see after the 7:45am pushing incident…Gracie dropped an egg on the upper right side of the nest cup!!! About 8:15 or so, she started rolling it down to the other two…at about 8:40, she is up chirping as George lands on perch, and the 3 eggs show clearly.

      • CarolV May 1, 2016 at 9:16 am - Reply

        So that would be about 7:46amEDT 5/1/16 for egg#3 ?

    39. june c May 1, 2016 at 8:58 am - Reply

      8:45 AM intruder close to nest (May 1)

    40. Marilyn Briglio May 1, 2016 at 8:50 am - Reply

      Marilyn B. May Day — 3 eggs! When did that happen?

    41. PattyK May 1, 2016 at 8:48 am - Reply

      5/1/16 8:40am Just spotted #3 egg!

    42. Ruth May 1, 2016 at 8:42 am - Reply

      Gracie laid her 3rd egg out of the nest bowl. George was on the eggs and she just laid it where she was standing. She did roll it back under her after George left. I found a video of the 3rd egg being laid. https://youtu.be/HV37QaRYT00

    43. cheryl May 1, 2016 at 8:28 am - Reply

      Egg #3 arrived at about 7:52am, but at this time Gracie doesn’t seem to want to move it by the others and it’s under a wing?

    44. Donna May 1, 2016 at 8:26 am - Reply

      There appears to be a third egg, but it’s off to the side of the nest. She’s not laying on it!

      • Donna May 1, 2016 at 8:31 am - Reply

        The 3rd egg is damaged not sure what happened.

        • Kathy B May 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm - Reply

          Donna, are you sure it’s damaged? Why then would she put in other 2. I watched her roll it in with others and didn’t look damaged.

          • Donna May 2, 2016 at 7:11 pm - Reply

            It seemed to look that way when I saw it. It was in that position for a while. Looks like it is Ok after all!

    45. kathy B May 1, 2016 at 8:23 am - Reply

      Believe she is now sitting on 3 eggs.

    46. kathy B May 1, 2016 at 8:22 am - Reply

      Sunday morn May 1st. 8:20am. I was scrolling back a bit and I see 3 eggs but she’s only sitting on 2 of them ! One is behind her tucked up in the branches. Does anyone else see this?

    47. june c May 1, 2016 at 7:54 am - Reply

      around 7:47 AM Gracie has her 3rd egg..George was on top of the 2 so she laid away from other 2..

    48. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 7:50 am - Reply

      @7:42amEDT George came in with a clawful, possibly plastic…he scooched his way onto the eggs and Gracie looked like she didn’t know how it happened. She huddled next to him and started chest pushing and angling her way back onto the eggs..really cute !!!

    49. Betsy May 1, 2016 at 7:48 am - Reply

      7:46 am Egg #3! And Gracie makes a hat trick!! 😀 Not quite in egg bowl; but there!!

      • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 7:56 am - Reply

        Silly George, flew in with a large piece of whitish plastic, then pushed Gracie RIGHT OUT OF THE WAY as she was in the process of laying the third egg!

    50. CarolV May 1, 2016 at 7:21 am - Reply

      Just @6:00amEDT 5/1/16 George brought in 1/2 fish…quick exchange as Gracie takes her breakfast and George takes over the nest…She was back about 7:05

    51. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 8:58 pm - Reply

      Liz B: Just seeing your comment. Birds fly and land into the wind for maximum lift and control of flight – like airplanes. So, they will come in and take off facing whichever way the crazy wind on the North Fork is blowing from!

    52. CarolV April 30, 2016 at 7:51 pm - Reply

      7:45pmEDT 4/30 Is tomorrow egg day..? Day 3 in the cycle….gonna have to watch in the a.m. …They seem to have their routine down already, sharing nest shifts so well..I wasn’t on board last year until after all three eggs had hatched..I wonder if they did as well their first season…hope experience helps this time around…and the humans don’t killoff the bunkers…

      • Lisa Anderson May 1, 2016 at 9:17 am - Reply

        Well you were right. Egg 3 there this morning. I just pray nothing happens like last year.

      • Lisa Anderson May 1, 2016 at 9:35 am - Reply

        About 8:15 this morning I think is when she had the third egg. I just went back and looked.

    53. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 7:47 pm - Reply

      Gracie returned at about 5:45 pm from her dinner break. Then at about 6:30 pm, George stopped in with a partial fish, but she was apparently too full from having eaten only 1 1/2 hours before, so he took off with it. The nest looked serene as it was fleetingly dappled by the setting sun. Gracie seems to be comfortably settled in for the night.

    54. CarolV April 30, 2016 at 7:43 pm - Reply

      7:32pmEDT 4/30 Saying good-bye to April already…..quick….About 10mins, ago, Gracie yanked up some of the nicely buried plastic right in the nest bowl…she seemed to approve of the changes and snuggled right in…

    55. Kathy B April 30, 2016 at 5:28 pm - Reply

      I think George has OCD…….always figiting ! 🙂

      • Betsy April 30, 2016 at 7:22 pm - Reply

        Kathy B: I think so, too! And, I think he makes up little birdie games to amuse himself to pass the time!!

    56. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 5:19 pm - Reply

      At 4:58 pm, George, at long last, brought Gracie her second (headless) fish of the day! She couldn’t quite grasp it with her foot, so she flew off with it in her beak! She’s not back yet, so I’m guessing it arrived safely with her to a perch. The eggs are now in George’s sleepy care.

    57. Mickey Martin April 30, 2016 at 5:04 pm - Reply

      4/30/16 4:59pm Gracie was sitting in nest bowl for the 15 minutes I was watching. George appeared with a very nice size blue fish without its head (4:59). Gracie got up and showed us 2 beautiful speckled eggs. She grasped the fish and left the nest. George poked the nest bowl a few times and carefully sat on both eggs.

    58. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 12:07 pm - Reply

      The air is so calm today … I love hearing the muffled beat of George and Gracie’s flapping wings and the occasional rustling of their feathers as they fly in and out of the nest.

    59. Leesa April 30, 2016 at 10:36 am - Reply

      George flew into the nest with another large fish around 6:15 and proceeded to eat in front of Gracie. She wasn’t very happy about it and was fussing at him so he flew off with it. He returned with about half of it around 6:45 and gave it to Gracie. She returned later and George took off. He returned to give her a break on egg duty, which she immediately took advantage of. She returned after a nice break and settled back in on the eggs. They do such a good job of team work!

    60. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 10:24 am - Reply

      Looks like a tranquil day at the manor so far! Gracie and George have been alternating incubating the eggs, dozing and basking in the sun. Must be bliss for Gracie after being pelted by the rain in the wee hours of the morning!

    61. RonS April 30, 2016 at 9:35 am - Reply

      04/30/20016 About 9:28 am Very peaceful AM with Gracie on the nest.She gets a visit from the sparrow family from downstairs. George flies in with no fish. They share a sleepy Good Morning peck on the beak and she flies off to the breakfast buffet. George takes over the brooding duties.

    62. Jo-Ann April 30, 2016 at 8:51 am - Reply

      April 30th @ 7:40 a.m. (EST) George decided to cover up that piece of bark with seaweed that he brought in yesterday. It was really annoying Gracie yesterday but she managed had managed to move it away from the middle of the nest. I wish he would cover up that piece of rosebush clipping that is still visible so that the thorns won’t be a hazard to the babies when they start to move around. It was bothering G&G a few days ago till Gracie managed to secure it with a branch. But the thorns are still in a bad location.

    63. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 8:13 am - Reply

      Gracie returned to the nest a few minutes ago. When George didn’t get up off the eggs right away, Gracie gave him looks and quiet chirps, like asking “Are you going to get up?” George looked like he was just enjoying the view and peacefulness of the morning and was in no hurry to get started with the hustle and bustle of the day!

    64. Betsy April 30, 2016 at 6:22 am - Reply

      George just flew in with a nice-size headless fish, Gracie was doing her little begging chirps … and what does George do? Flies away with the fish!! Poor Gracie!!

      • Betsy April 30, 2016 at 6:46 am - Reply

        George just returned with the fish … a little smaller … but let Gracie have it. George’s turn to sit in sodden nest and incubate eggs.

    65. CarolV April 30, 2016 at 6:18 am - Reply

      6:10amEDT 4/30/16 Poor Gracie…..all wet and bedraggled….must have been a rough night…..But the sun is peeking up at the horizon and breakfast arrived at 6:14…or not..George decided he was still a little hungry and took it out to clean off some more of that fishhead…

      • CarolV April 30, 2016 at 6:49 am - Reply

        6:40am George is back with a guilty smile and evidence on his beak…Gracie had a few words to say and took her fish off..

    66. Betsy April 29, 2016 at 8:54 pm - Reply

      At 7 pm, I scrolled back to see what I’d missed. At about the -3hr 45 min mark, George landed in the nest with seaweed. As Gracie was starting to get up off the eggs, George reached down and pulled on her feathers – it almost looked as if he was pulling her up. She didn’t react negatively toward him, though, when he did that. Did he think he was picking up the seaweed? If so, I’m beginning to seriously think he has poor eyesight, especially with the way he so often lands on top of Gracie when he returns to the nest and plops things down on top of her!! I’ve read articles describing osprey courtship behavior, but I don’t recall pulling on feathers as one of them! There have not been any comments posted since the afternoon, so I don’t if anyone else saw this and what they think!

      • Gamma Carolyn April 30, 2016 at 7:58 pm - Reply

        Betsy, go to youtube and search for ” Maya pulling wing ” you should find a video of an Osprey truing to get its mate off the eggs so he can sit on them. There are a lot of good ones , if you look around for Osprey.

        • Betsy May 1, 2016 at 2:23 pm - Reply

          Gamma Carolyn: Thank you SO much for letting me know … I watched the video … that was too too funny! Who knew??!! I can just hear the one telling the other one “C’MON … C’MON… hurry … get UP! It’s MY turn now!!” And the other one saying “But, I’m soooo comfortable … Oh, all right!”

    67. CarolV April 29, 2016 at 6:53 pm - Reply

      6:50pmEDT 4/29 Panic attack!!! Video interruptus…streamer stopped streaming…oh….better now…I’m OK

      • Betsy April 30, 2016 at 7:03 pm - Reply

        A similar happening here now! — but Cablevision-related. Cable guys working around corner … cable off, cable on … they left, they came back later to same pole … cable off, cable on! I feel like running out and telling them “Really?, the same pole? Go home now, guys.” They look like they’re packing up, now … I hope for the night!!

        • Betsy April 30, 2016 at 7:15 pm - Reply

          Nope, they’re not done yet! I stepped outside and saw them coming out of the neighbor’s house across the street. The neighbor was outside … I heard him ask “What’s up, guys?” “Maintenance work”. They have to do it now?? Why not in the middle of the night??

          • Betsy April 30, 2016 at 8:00 pm - Reply

            Oops … from the yard of the neighbor’s house across the street …

    68. Donna April 29, 2016 at 6:05 pm - Reply

      At 6:03 EST Gracie started screeching acting as though there was an intruder but then she flew off for a minute or so and came back. Not sure what is going on. I wouldn’t think she would leave the eggs.

    69. CarolV April 29, 2016 at 6:00 pm - Reply

      5:55pmEDT 4/29 YAAAYYYYYY!!!!! dinner is served…good sized headless fish….George takes over child care…I think Gracie was getting anxious..she had been chirping…I guess it’s possible George sat close by to eat his share of the fish and Gracie was hurrying him along…that’s what happens when Verizon Vic comes home with fish..he sits on his post while Vera calls for her share….

      • CarolV April 29, 2016 at 6:05 pm - Reply

        6:01pm George was chirping like crazy and flew out of the nest, calling..6:04 he’s back…still worked up about something

    70. Leanne April 29, 2016 at 5:57 pm - Reply

      April 29-5:55- George brings Gracie in a nice headless fish for dinner which she gladly flew off with.

    71. CarolV April 29, 2016 at 5:34 pm - Reply

      5:30pmEDT 4/29 Poor Gracie is really hunkered down into the nest..wind is really constant…I don’t think George has been in to take a turn for a while.

      • CarolV April 29, 2016 at 5:38 pm - Reply

        5:37pm Good work, Betsy,,,thanks for the egg#2 post….

    72. Betsy April 29, 2016 at 5:12 pm - Reply

      Michael: I just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to reply to a comment to be able to post a comment, unless you want to. You can also post a comment as a stand-alone post, if you like. Scroll way way way down to the bottom of the page to the “Leave a Comment” box and enter your remark.

    73. Diane April 29, 2016 at 2:31 pm - Reply

      I am so glad that George & Gracie are back. I will be watching every day with bated breath. Last year was a joy & a heartbreaker, but we have to realize that this is how nature works. Sometimes it’s magical & wonderful, sometimes it’s brutal & heartbreaking. There is another osprey pair nesting on top of the Suffolk County National Bank building in Riverhead. They must be new in town. It’s all so amazing. So glad that the osprey population is back up, thanks to the outlawing of DDT. Thank you so much for your hard work in making the videos so we can all enjoy taking part in their lives!!!

    74. Betsy April 29, 2016 at 1:51 pm - Reply

      Just scrolling back: I see that the second piece of bark (?) that George brought earlier was just too much for Gracie smack dab in the middle of the nest! When she had trouble moving it over – the wind repeatedly blew it back – I was waiting for her to chuck it over the side of the nest!! About a half hour later, Gracie, alone on the nest, appeared to go into her begging call, then quickly and briefly postured into intruder mode, then went back to a begging call as the shadow of a flying osprey (George?) was cast onto the nest; a few minutes later George joined Gracie, then both he and Gracie went into a brief intruder mode … the intruder apparently got the message, because Gracie settled back down on the eggs and George flew away with his fish. Boy, I wish I could see what was going on overhead!! About 10 minutes later, George briefly popped back into nest (still with the fish) and then again about 25 or so minutes later (still with the fish – that fish has more air miles!), staying a few minutes before flying off with the fish. None for Gracie! George returned about 15 minutes later with seaweed for the nest and took over incubation, giving Gracie a well-deserved, although brief, reprieve – actually, more like a quick bathroom break of only a few minutes! – before joining her up on the perch for a lickety-split mating session. Then back to the grind for Gracie.

    75. Rjoneal April 29, 2016 at 1:09 pm - Reply

      Just something to bring to everyone’s attention, everyone thanks Paul and Tommy and others but wake up people it is Tommy and Christina’s whom I believe is Tommy’s wife property she never seems to get a thank you as well.
      The site has her name on it too.
      Just thought I would mention that.
      So let’s give a shout out to Christina for all the times we didn’t thank her. Everyone have a good day!

      • Leanne April 29, 2016 at 3:19 pm - Reply

        April 29- Many thanks to Paul, Tommy and Christina for bringing us these beautiful osprey. 🙂

      • Betsy April 29, 2016 at 3:56 pm - Reply

        Thank you, Rjoneal, for bringing that to our attention. I didn’t even realize there was a Christina! Hi and thank you Christina!

      • ChrisH April 29, 2016 at 5:42 pm - Reply

        Agreed!

      • june c April 30, 2016 at 9:16 am - Reply

        Thank You Christina and all that are part of this wonderful site!

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