IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts

Mike, I like you had read that Ospreys mate for life. However, in light of what has happened at the OZ nest this year, there was a comment made some time ago that Ospreys are more dedicated to the nest site itself than to each other. I don’t remember who wrote that, and I have not done any research on it, but it would explain why George took up with another female so readily. No way we will ever know what drama went on earlier, or if Gracie had just arrived soon before or soon after the camera actually came on live. I’m like you and heartbroken for Gracie, but we have to keep telling ourselves these are still wild animals, and we are just observers in their environment. Sure is making for an interesting story, though, that’s for sure.

Michael, there is a very good chance that Jane was at the nest before George or Gracie returned North. George could have arrived at the nest, saw her there and let nature take over- building up the nest and making little ospreys. (Jane is an exotic beauty, after all) Meanwhile, Gracie could have a set up at a completely new nest nearby with a new mate (Verizon Vic?) and went for a fly around and spotted her old nest with her first mate with a new female and landed on it forgetting which nest was hers – thinking she had to protect it?.Who knows? Maybe she wintered in Jamaica at a Rastafarian beach and inhaled a little too much second hand smoke and is a little spacey now.
There are so many theories, but without the benefit of the camera early on, we’ll never know.
For me, I am so grateful that Gracie is alive. The interesting thing will be WHO will be in the nest next season? Jane? Gracie? I guess it depends on who gets there first.

CarolV: It’s funny to watch the sparrows chasing the crows by me!!

“What’s Going On When I See Little Birds Going After A Big Bird?
April 1, 2009

You witnessed a behavior called “mobbing,” where smaller birds swoop and dash at flying or perched larger birds (and sometimes mammals). They typically do this in an effort to drive away potential predators from a breeding territory, a nest or young, or a nonbreeding home range.

Common mobbers include chickadees, titmice, kingbirds, blackbirds, grackles, jays, and crows. Common targets of mobbing are hawks, crows, ravens, herons, and owls. Mobbing can happen at any time of year, but it is especially common in spring as birds experience surges of hormones, become territorial, and begin to nest.

There are different kinds of mobbing. Birds may chase other birds away from their territories or a food source. For example, in the early spring Red-winged Blackbirds chase not only rival blackbirds, but almost any other bird, big or small, that crosses their territory.

Mobbing is also used by birds as a way to protect themselves and their young against predators. In these cases you often see a single smaller bird chasing a larger bird in flight (sometimes two or three join the chase as the larger bird crosses territories).

In some cases you’ll run across a group of birds harassing a perched predator. Often, several different species join forces to mob this common threat. The mobbing birds tend to use similar-sounding call notes, regardless of their species, and this may act to recruit other individuals to form a mobbing flock. It’s this phenomenon that’s behind the success of pishing, in which a birder imitates mobbing calls to bring birds into view. Our Birding Warblers video features a segment on pishing.

Mobbing calls may also act as warnings to other small birds, may call in even larger predators to go after the target of the mobbing, and may inform a predator that it has been spotted, causing it to move to another area with unsuspecting prey.

Owls in particular elicit intense mobbing behavior, as they often prey on sleeping birds. Smaller birds chase these predators out of their territories so that they will be safer at night. Owls are such frequent targets of mobbing—and so hard to see otherwise—that listening for mobbing calls is a good way to find owls during the day.

Mobbing usually does not harm the larger bird, although you may see blackbirds or kingbirds making contact with crows, hawks, or herons as they drive them off. But the behavior is tied more to driving away a predator than causing it injury. At the same time, mobbing is not as dangerous to the smaller birds as it may look, either. The lack of surprise, and the greater maneuverability of the mobber, take away much of the predator’s advantage.”

Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/sometimes-i-see-little-birds-going-after-a-big-bird-why-do-they-do-this/

Carried the fish away in her beak, again!! 😀

George, try this on. Let’s see how it looks!

A little while later, when there was enough light to see better and the bird picked up its head, I saw that it was George!

Then, George jumped down from the perch to sit.

I always get a kick out of watching George when he’s putting stuff on his back! Maybe he thinks he’s a duck!

Then George hopped down from the perch to egg-sit.

Shake those tail feathers, George!

George is in……..

Another good size fish!

………..and left……………..

that would be oFF

I should have reversed the pictures!

Maybe fluffing the grasses will help……..

CarolV: George brought it!

I will give it a go. Yes that was Gracie. George and Jane kicked her to the “curb”. Sadly she got wounded. Was good to see her alive. Sad to see her go. Only one female can be on the nest. Was very dramatic for awhile. At one point seemed like Gracie landed right on the eggs. Hope they’re alright. Tommy and Christina chose the name Jane.

Lady Jane…..my Mom used to call us that if we were a bit too full of ourselves {;^))

“Take THAT, nasty pests! $#*&^() intruders!