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An Intro to OspreyZone

The Story of DDT

Osprey Rescue

2020 Clips

Bald Eagles Visit Nest

Ospreyzone Highlights: May 21-29, 2020

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

OspreyZone Highlights: May 7th-14th, 2020

OspreyZone Highlights: April 15-21, 2020

OspreyZone Yankee

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

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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

    52,629 Comments

    1. Sandy - Massapequa August 20, 2015 at 9:48 pm - Reply

      Checking our litttle Birdasians for the night and from 8 to 9:30 nest has been empty. Looks like the Training Perch has been encouraging, could be the first night when all the family is perching and learning how to be a responsible osprey. When I scrolled back to about 7 one chick was in the nest and it started to sound alarmed while looking up, then an adult landed in nest with a chunk of fish but it didn’t look like Gracie or George to me. The head was much whiter and with the way the chick screamed and sprawled out its wings, it seemed like it was in protect mode. I’ve seen the chicks sound alarmed when food is coming but this was a little different with the wings sprawled out.

      • jeanneD August 21, 2015 at 12:06 am - Reply

        August 20, 2015 at 11:55 PM

        Sandy, the chick was mantling, which is doing what you described: protecting its prey–which he didn’t have, I guess–by beating its wings and screaming in an aggressive manner. I have seen one of the chicks do this only once; he was protecting his meal from Gracie. And Gracie mantles all the time after she grabs the fish from George..

        • Sandy - Massapequa August 21, 2015 at 12:04 pm - Reply

          JeanneD, thanks for the explanation. I have seen Gracie mantling too. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. lol I’ve been Instagraming a couple of videos of this Family. Check out #ospreyzone on Instagram.

    2. CarolV August 20, 2015 at 8:47 pm - Reply

      Scan back 4 hrs. to see Gracie moving small ” trees ” around the nest…these branches just keep getting bigger!! George brought a fish in and Gracie didn’t even try to take it. This was a little after 4pmEDT. At that point, each kid had a fish. For some reason, I don’t see comments, so will have to look for them
      Sandy was in the nest about 6:50pm when George arrived with a fish. As Sandy started on the fish, George tried rearranging furniture. When he got too close to the bratty kid, he got bopped hard on the head, so he took off.
      Night fell and no one is in the nest.

      • drabbit August 21, 2015 at 8:34 am - Reply

        I wonder if the larger sticks are designed to represent probable landing zones found in nature rather than the lovely flat nest they grew up in.
        When they fly in to land in a tree there will be branches at all angles making it more awkward to navigate…especially if you might be carrying a heavy fish.
        Just a thought.

    3. ja August 20, 2015 at 7:28 pm - Reply

      Poor Sandy….I guess its good it will motivate her

    4. ja August 20, 2015 at 7:23 pm - Reply

      I think its time for Ronnie to pack his bags & move out

    5. Monica August 20, 2015 at 6:31 pm - Reply

      Obsessed with my ospreys! I need to check into an osprey rehab clinic. LOL!! I’ve been rewinding; watched when mom and kids were eating together. George brought in one whole fish for one of the kids (I’ll never be able to tell them apart). The nest is definitely too clunky; is it that Gracie wants to make it as uncomfortable as possible so the kids take off soon? I still haven’t seen the kids fish for themselves.

    6. Jo-Ann August 20, 2015 at 5:31 pm - Reply

      Yes I too think it was Ronnie the got the fish at 4:40 which he ate alone but I noticed that Gracie and Sandy seemed uninterested so I assume they weren’t hungry. Just heard some screeching so I checked and Ronnie has eaten about 1/2 the fish still has it in her talons and sort of nibbling at it now. Gracie is gone and Sandy still not interested in attempting to get any food. Guess she is full. The screeching now seems to be coming from the perch not from the babies.

    7. Holly August 20, 2015 at 5:27 pm - Reply

      Branches are to claim the nest for next year. They don’t want others to think it is abandoned. Good News! They intend to return.

    8. Nancy August 20, 2015 at 5:22 pm - Reply

      So what can we expect for the future ? Will the whole family winter over in this nest ? Or leave for warmer climes ? Will G & G return next spring to claim this nest, or will the babies take possession ? Assuming they all survive the winter……this is as riveting as Downton Abbey !

      • CarolV August 21, 2015 at 8:52 am - Reply

        And we have to wait just as long for the next season!

    9. june c August 20, 2015 at 4:22 pm - Reply

      Dad bring in nice piece of fish 4:20…of course Ronnie gets it first..I think its Ronnie.

    10. Lisa August 20, 2015 at 4:20 pm - Reply

      can someone take a still shot and label who is who? I can’t tell anymore 🙂

      • June c August 20, 2015 at 6:13 pm - Reply

        I am pretty sure Ronnie is a little horse in his cry..and one of our OA members advised Sandy has a thinner black strip on the head

      • Monica August 20, 2015 at 6:41 pm - Reply

        LOL!!! Yesterday I was thinking that one has bigger eyes than the other; oh, and a different color eye. (I watch them full screen on my laptop). But, that doesn’t help, does it? Oh, and isn’t the male chick more aggressive? All this might be my imagination. I need to get a life!! lol

    11. june c August 20, 2015 at 3:58 pm - Reply

      played back tape and watched 2:30 catch Mom brought in..First eating the head..I have been bitten by a snapper fish..I bet she is eating those sharp teeth so the little ones don’t get bitten

    12. sallyanne August 20, 2015 at 2:54 pm - Reply

      Re those branches. They are sooo big, and one of them has an additional branch sticking out. Too many branches with sharp, weird shapes. They are somewhat dangerous esp. when one of the ospryes is coming in for a landing,

      If it has a fish in its talons as well, the safe touch down is even more difficult.

      We see that ospreys like to bring branches into the nest. Do they ever throw any of them OUT? now would be a good time!!

      • GinaM August 20, 2015 at 7:58 pm - Reply

        The branches are now being brought in and used as a training tool for the babies to get used to carrying the fish they will eventually catch

    13. Vickie August 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm - Reply

      I just saw one of the “babies” come in with a big fish. Perhaps this isn’t the first time but it’s the first time I’ve seen it. They are growing up too fast!

      • Vickie August 20, 2015 at 2:46 pm - Reply

        My bad….one of the parents brought it in. In my excitement I didn’t scroll back far enough.

    14. Jara August 20, 2015 at 2:32 pm - Reply

      Was wondering why Gracie has decided to bring in so many thick branches. Earlier she flew in with a branch and landed on Ronnie. He didn’t take kindly to this and pecked at her. Seems like she’s reinforcing the nest before she heads South. My friend said it looks like she’s building a picket fence.

      • Gamma August 20, 2015 at 3:31 pm - Reply

        12:31 PDT Jara, I have noticed this on many nests at this time of the season. Even though they may have been bringing sticks all along they seem to almost overdo it now. I have always thought they were getting their summer home ready to close up before they head South for the winter. Both Mom and Dad have been bringing sticks.

        • GinaM August 20, 2015 at 7:59 pm - Reply

          It is to teach the babies to pick them up to get used to carrying the fish the catch

    15. pudgy August 20, 2015 at 2:01 pm - Reply

      I received my hat and t shirt in the mail today!!! So excited can’t wait to wear them!!

      • Cathy August 20, 2015 at 3:53 pm - Reply

        I received my field bag and hat yesterday and I too am very pleased with my purchase. They day after I made my purchase many new items were added to the store and now I will have to purchase more since the quality was so good. Great selections and a great cause!

    16. elizabeth whitlam August 20, 2015 at 11:22 am - Reply

      beautiful high nest, enjoyed the rescue, I think these birds being so close to man are experiencing ropes etc. too bad but they are all healthy

    17. sallyanne August 20, 2015 at 10:54 am - Reply

      have not been following nest as religiously as before.
      do any of the chicks bring fish back to the nest?

      I think i have read that ronnie does, but sandy seems to be content to lie in nest, be fed by mom.

    18. Jo-Ann August 20, 2015 at 10:22 am - Reply

      8:30 ish EST Gracie arrives with a fish then Sandy arrives. Gracie and Sandy sharing it, George brings in some seaweed then Ronnie arrives. Surprisingly he isn’t able to get in between Gracie and Sandy to get any fish. About 9 she loses his patience and charges in grabs the fish and he and Gracie are doing a major tug of war . At the same time George arrives with a headless fish and starts eating by himself since the others aren’t aware that he has a fish. Gracie prevails then Ronnie notices George and his fish so he of course took it from George. So all were well fed at this time. There wasn’t a morsel left by 10:00 and all left the nest. The nest is looking a little uncomfortable since so many sticks are being brought in. Someone commented that it may be because it is teaching them to grab onto fish in the water by them grabbing onto these sticks and fly up a little from the nest as I have seen them doing. Or as someone else said maybe George is making it uncomfortable because he wants them to get out of the nest and go fishing for themselves so they can all leave.

    19. Roberta August 20, 2015 at 9:33 am - Reply

      Very upsetting to see big struggle over a fish that parent had been feeding to 1 chick. So much force, that when parent 2 came with another lovely fish, it was ignored for a while. Then struggle with chick over that one too. That parent left, hopefully to bring another one so all would have some food. Too much fighting over the feeding. One chick’s feathers are disheveled, probably in the fish fight.

    20. Lyn August 20, 2015 at 9:19 am - Reply

      9:00 am.EDT – MAJOR MELEE IN THE NEST! Gracie is feeding the starving Sandy and Ronnie is having a fit due to having to wait for fish. So he decides to try and steal the fish right out of Gracie’s claws and a fight between them ensued where they are both tugging on the fish for quite a long time! George then flies into the nest with another fish, which Ronnie ignores for a little bit, then resigns himself to defeat with Gracie and grabs the fish from George and starts to eat. After a few minutes of calming down, Gracie went back to feeding Sandy and herself again. WHAT a HOG that Ronnie is! Whew….the most drama in the nest yet!

      • Vickie August 20, 2015 at 10:31 am - Reply

        Thanks for that recap. I scrolled back and saw it first hand…..you’re right….DRAMA!!!

    21. Phil K August 20, 2015 at 9:16 am - Reply

      One of the Juvis scared me this morning. Had some sticks stuck on talons. You can scroll back and see the O fly aggressively trying to dislodge the wood.
      Hope he/she is OK.

      • Cathy August 20, 2015 at 10:06 am - Reply

        I saw that too and was in a total panic that something was very wrong. Even the cries seems more faint than usual so it did not seem like he/she was crying for food my first thought was physical distress. I had to leave for work and it takes 1 hour to get here. The very first thing I did was to check to see if everything was OK. So glad to see company on the nest and now everyone has flown off. The tension was killing me.

      • Nancy August 20, 2015 at 11:01 am - Reply

        This is a cool nest! I have been a follower of the Maine, Hog Island nest. It’s depressing seeing no activity on it and now that I have found this nest, I am filled with joy

    22. june c August 20, 2015 at 9:10 am - Reply

      around 9 lots of activity..Mom kids and even Dad brings in 2nd fish little fight with 1st fish with Mom and Ronnie then Dad brings 2nd..It was nice to see Dad so much this AM

    23. Kathryn k August 20, 2015 at 9:10 am - Reply

      About 8:45 Ronnie and mom were having a tug of war with a fish. Mom won but George brought another fish in and Ronnie took that one.

    24. june c August 20, 2015 at 8:51 am - Reply

      between 8:20-8:50 busy time at nest..Sandy leaves for a minute Mom brings in fish.Dad brings seaweed to nest. Odd to see just Mom and Dad and one little one at nest without other

    25. Cindy August 20, 2015 at 8:50 am - Reply

      Looks like Sandy has a stick hung to his claw

    26. June c August 20, 2015 at 7:35 am - Reply

      7:30. Sandy is having trouble keeping her eyes open…how many hours do they sleep? how often do they take naps during the day? it is a sign of immaturity that Sandy sleeps laying down?

    27. June c August 20, 2015 at 7:18 am - Reply

      Sandy crying for food..Mom brings in seaweed..7:17..maybe fish next

    28. CarolV August 20, 2015 at 6:54 am - Reply

      Whichever kid stayed on the nest spent the night out on that stick perch; so Sandy perched all night either on that stick or on the camera perch. That’s a good step up from his usual nest bed.

    29. Leanne August 20, 2015 at 1:25 am - Reply

      I havent been on all day and have missed the Osprey Four sooo much. Read comments and it seemed like a good day. Love these birds sooo much and miss them when I can’t visit.

    30. Lisa August 20, 2015 at 12:00 am - Reply

      What an amazing day.. I didn’t get to see my favorite babies on the computer but I was able to visit the company that helped the baby get untangled…I also have family staying out where the nest is in a summer rental, so I was able to stop by and see the tower from a close distance… One of the happiest days I csn remember…I could see Gracie feeding her babies..Wow what a sight…

    31. Karen August 19, 2015 at 11:11 pm - Reply

      As others said, they eat everything except the gill covers and are able to digest it all. They rarely need to throw up the compressed pellets of undigested parts like other raptors.
      If you’ve ever looked in on the barn owl cam you can see their entire nest box is filled with their pellets which the female shreds to make nesting material.

    32. Marlene August 19, 2015 at 9:28 pm - Reply

      George returns with half eaten fish around 6:45 p.m., which is grabbed by Ronnie, I presume. He seems so full and is nodding out with his foot on the fish, but will not share with sis. Afterward, Ronnie starts rearranging the black plastic that has been pretty well hidden under all of the twigs.
      I just love to watch the fledglings soar when they leave the nest, and I love the chirping that they make when they are returning to the nest. Not sure if it’s just Sandy that does it, or both of them.
      Please keep the posts coming tomorrow. I won’t be near a computer much of the day. Thanks!

    33. Marlene August 19, 2015 at 9:05 pm - Reply

      Just scrolled back and saw that another nice size live fish was brought to the nest around 5:05 p.m. The parent was eating it, but then shared it with one of the youngsters. They must be pretty full, since there was a lot of fish on the menu today.
      As I was checking back, the other parent (George) brought in a big lively fish around 5:30 p.m. The fledglings were crying, he saw that Grace had a fish for them, so he took off with his fish. I guess he decided to have a nice, quiet dinner by himself.

    34. CarolV August 19, 2015 at 8:43 pm - Reply

      I thought that was Sandy who was rearranging sticks and taking some evening “strolls” around the nest while Ronnie sat out on that long. stick perch. But then, the active kid flew up to camera perch. That’s where Ronnie usually overnights. Either way, it looks like Sandy is practicing perching, maybe overnight?

    35. CarolV August 19, 2015 at 7:57 pm - Reply

      Seeing the two fledglings sitting there in the sunset, it’s sad to think that even these two go their separate ways in about 6 weeks. I used to think that the kids at least followed their parents on the migration or would stay together for the trip, but from what I’ve read and what has been shared here, these birds lead solitary existences except when they pair up to raise a family. I wonder if they even interact with other osprey in their travels.

      • kgerette August 20, 2015 at 7:09 am - Reply

        I’ve heard told, they are not going seperate ways. They will go with Dad/George down to s. America where he will keep teaching them. He will return next year and they will stay there for about 2 years and then return back to their place of birth about 2018.

        Kathy

        • Karen August 20, 2015 at 10:16 am - Reply

          No, that’s not correct. They will all go their separate ways. George will stay as long as possible to help provide food but at some point will need to leave whether or not the kids are catching their own fish.
          Some ospreys don’t even catch their first fish till they begin their migration. They are not taught to fish by the parents, it is completely instinctual.

    36. CarolV August 19, 2015 at 7:22 pm - Reply

      7:19ishpmEDT Picture perfect shot of osprey on perch with horizon turning pink……..

    37. CarolV August 19, 2015 at 7:07 pm - Reply

      Got to see the tugs of war over the fish…it’s almost as if Ronnie sulks when she doesn’t win…for once Sandy is benefiting! He eats first and gets Mom’s attention. Just happy to see everyone well fed.
      I noticed the ” logs” added to the nest…I gather it was a joint effort of both G & G..

    38. Pat August 19, 2015 at 6:46 pm - Reply

      Too bad osprey don’t eat flies.

    39. Jeff August 19, 2015 at 5:35 pm - Reply

      5:30pm – Gracie is feeding one of the kids, when George drops in with another, flopping live fish. He looks around as if to say ‘Who’s hungry?” but no takers, and flies off with it.

    40. will August 19, 2015 at 5:21 pm - Reply

      When do the babies start fishing for themselves or have they done so already?

      • CarolV August 20, 2015 at 8:50 pm - Reply

        Not sure….they still seem dependent on parents.

    41. Vickie August 19, 2015 at 4:59 pm - Reply

      Sooooo fellow OA (Osprey Anonymous) members. I was on vacation for a week and didn’t have a chance to view as often as I had been. I must say that I was using the vacation time to prepare and wean myself to handle the empty nest. Well….like any addiction it’s hard to break the habit. I won’t quit until I’m forced to. Confession: I LOVE WATCHING THIS NEST!!!! 😉

    42. Marilyn August 19, 2015 at 4:35 pm - Reply

      About an hour ago a fish was brought in by mom/dad. One of the chicks tried to grab it away, but in the end mom/dad kept hold of it. Now feeding at least one of the chicks, not sure which one.

    43. Phil K August 19, 2015 at 4:04 pm - Reply

      This may be a dumb question but…. I never see any fish bones. Do the birds eat the bones?

      • Gamma August 19, 2015 at 5:13 pm - Reply

        Phil K. They eat everything except the Opercula ( gill cover ) Don’t ask how they get the bones down !!! :)))) ( I don’t know )

      • Elizabeth August 19, 2015 at 5:42 pm - Reply

        Phil K…they eat the whole fish, bones and all.

      • CarolV August 19, 2015 at 7:02 pm - Reply

        Every bit…from lips to fins…scales, bones, skin…how’s that for digestion?

        • CarolV August 19, 2015 at 7:08 pm - Reply

          And there are no dumb questions.

          • gamma August 19, 2015 at 11:14 pm - Reply

            Carol, I agree, there are no dumb questions. That’s how we learn :)))))

    44. Jara August 19, 2015 at 4:03 pm - Reply

      3:40 pm Eastern – For at least the second time today, Gracie brought in a fish and had an all-out battle with Ronnie. But Gracie hung on. Poor Sandy was doing a “dunk and cover” on the edge of the nest. Ronnie finally backed off and Gracie began feeding Sandy. It was a good half hour before Gracie gave him any of the fish.

    45. Mac August 19, 2015 at 3:52 pm - Reply

      George and Gracie were having a ‘who can bring back the most ridiculously branched stick’ contest just after 2. Watching the nest residents duck as the branches came in was entertaining. A sea shell was also delivered and some flopping fish. I’m thinking that if there is any karma in this world, being an Osprey’s meal is what happens to bad people. Yuck!

      • Mac August 19, 2015 at 3:56 pm - Reply

        *Karma and reincarnation*

    46. kgerette August 19, 2015 at 3:44 pm - Reply

      3:40pm….another major tug of war happens. Good grief. mom and child not letting go. Mom wins…..for now.

    47. Jamie August 19, 2015 at 3:01 pm - Reply

      Edit: Previous comment, was closer to 2:30PM EST

    48. Marlene August 19, 2015 at 2:43 pm - Reply

      Around 2:25 p.m., the parents start redecorating — bringing in lots of sticks. Gracie (I think it’s her) brought one to the nest that was tangled in one of her talons. George then came in with a huge, messy stick and she took off with the twig still stuck in her talon. Wonder why they are building up the nest so much? To show their children this is what they have to learn to do??

      • Jamie August 19, 2015 at 4:48 pm - Reply

        I saw that also, her leg was wedged in the branch, not her talons.

      • Monica August 19, 2015 at 6:35 pm - Reply

        I was wondering the same thing. Why are they bringing so many twigs and branches when they’ll be leaving soon? Perhaps it’s like you stated – to show the little ones how a nest is built/decorated. Interior design 101!!! lol

    49. Jamie August 19, 2015 at 2:41 pm - Reply

      Around 2:15PM EST, one of the parents brought back a branch and their right leg is caught in it!
      Keeps flying off with it wrapped around leg…

    50. Cindy August 19, 2015 at 2:18 pm - Reply

      Hate the thought of them leaving. Never had watched an Osprey nest cam till this year. Have really enjoyed watching them grow up. I look at their heads, to be able to tell them apart. Sandy has a smaller head than Ronnie does.

    51. sallyanne August 19, 2015 at 2:10 pm - Reply

      Hi Sue: I see you noticed that feather sticking up, also.

      My consider it a Victory feather that has been hoisted to indicate a successful nest!

    52. Marlene August 19, 2015 at 1:59 pm - Reply

      Another lively fish delivery at 1:25 p.m. I’m pretty sure it’s Gracie who brought in this fish, too. She’s back to feeding her babies again; Ronnie first and then Sandy, I’m pretty sure, based upon their personalities. Looks like it’s a good fish day today. Wonder when they will start catching their own meals? It’s good to know she’s still around.

    53. Marlene August 19, 2015 at 10:48 am - Reply

      Around 8:40 a.m., breakfast was delivered, but only one fledgling was fed by the parent (probably Ronnie). Around 10:05 a.m., a whole live fish was brought to the nest — I think by Gracie. She seems to be the one who brings the whole fish to the nest. Poor fish. It was really sad. One of the chicks was fighting her for the fish — probably Ronnie — but she held on to it and eventually fed both of them. They should both be full for a while. Sandy does not seem to require as much food as Ronnie, in my opinion. But, it is definitely getting more difficult to tell them apart. I’m even finding the parents to be harder to differentiate. But I do think the female osprey is bigger than the male. Am I correct? I have never been into ospreys until this past July, when I found out about ospreyzone. Love it and them!

      • Monica August 19, 2015 at 1:30 pm - Reply

        Marlene – thanks for this comment. I rewound to that point. That Ronnie is something else, isn’t he? LOL!! Can you imagine fighting with your Mom over food? LOL!! I seriously cannot tell them apart; never have, never will. Poor fish, too, flapping it’s tail for a while before it finally died. Nature can be so cruel. At least this time I didn’t see the fish’s eye wide open like one other time when it was being ripped apart. Oh well, that’s nature. I think I saw George earlier this morning; he dropped off that half fish and took off. Funny, he doesn’t stick around to fight over the fish. 🙂

      • Beatrice August 19, 2015 at 3:43 pm - Reply

        there’s another fight over a fish right now at 3:42 pm. So far it looks like Gracie won. Oooh the fish is still flapping.

    54. SUE August 19, 2015 at 10:43 am - Reply

      Brunch is served- both ‘kids’ getting full. Is the feather sticking up from under the left wing a fashion statement??

      • Monica August 19, 2015 at 3:53 pm - Reply

        Yesterday Gracie had two feathers sticking up – one on each side. LOL!!

    55. Janet F August 19, 2015 at 10:25 am - Reply

      Both juvies and Gracie on nest feeding one juvie..other one complaining he or she wants a fish of thier own. Gracie looks like she has an antenna sticking up lol feather out of place.

    56. barbarav August 19, 2015 at 10:16 am - Reply

      10:14 am wed. feeding time. I’m guessing it’s Ronnie eating with Sandy in the background waiting. Very loud between bites.

    57. june c August 19, 2015 at 10:08 am - Reply

      around 11:00 major tug of war with fish Mom brings in..Mom wins..looks like she is heading the head..fish was still flapping..Sandy and Ronnie are yelling for some..

    58. sallyanne August 19, 2015 at 9:48 am - Reply

      August 19th @9:43 EST
      Such an idyllic (sp?) view right now, with one of the fledglings in the nest. Beautiful sparkling water behind; puffy fat clouds on the horizon. All calm in the nest.
      What a contrast to weeks ago with the hectic feeding,, hopping, flapping, and fledging,
      Seems like a very happy close- to- ending.

      i will miss this site.

    59. Jeff August 19, 2015 at 9:34 am - Reply

      Late breakfast today – George brought in a headless fish at about 8:40am. Gracie then fed it to one of the fledglings.The 2nd fledgling arrived about 10 minutes later – have to be quicker than that.

    60. Mitchell August 19, 2015 at 9:25 am - Reply

      Can we set up a Q & A session with with Rob the Osprey expert?

    61. Jara August 19, 2015 at 9:19 am - Reply

      8:45 Eastern – George brought in good sized fish to empty nest. Gracie and Sandy flew in a couple seconds later and Gracie took the fish to feed Sandy. (Sandy has a thinner black stripe on her head.) Ronnie came in a few minutes later and tried to get a bite, but Sandy grabbed the fish from Gracie and took it to edge of nest.

    62. kgerette August 19, 2015 at 9:07 am - Reply

      sleepy teen in nest at 9:07 am. Someone making noise on perch.

    63. GinaM August 19, 2015 at 9:03 am - Reply

      How can Gracie possibly leave when she is still feeding them… George is bringing in more sticks to get the babies used to picking them up- readying them for carrying fish. (Not sure if someone posted that already.)

    64. june c August 19, 2015 at 8:55 am - Reply

      by 8:50 breakfast over..everyone gone

    65. Phil K August 19, 2015 at 8:51 am - Reply

      In my next life I want to be an Osprey!!! I like to fish,like sushi, and the tropics in the winter are very appealing.

      • karin August 19, 2015 at 4:42 pm - Reply

        Phil, sounds good to me, But I would want to spend the summer in Yellowstone then head for the tropics for the winter…

      • WendyL August 19, 2015 at 6:51 pm - Reply

        Me too!!!!!?

    66. june c August 19, 2015 at 8:49 am - Reply

      could be Ronnie?

    67. june c August 19, 2015 at 8:49 am - Reply

      around 8:35 Dad brought it fish..Mom was on perch…came right down to take it..and Sandy right there to eat…and if u listen u can hear Sandy in background coming in for breakfast..

    68. Kathryn k August 19, 2015 at 8:46 am - Reply

      Sorry it was Sandy eating first then Rodney flew in.

    69. Mimsey August 19, 2015 at 8:46 am - Reply

      Both kids in the nest, one getting fed by mom, the other watching and waiting for its turn.

    70. Mitchell August 19, 2015 at 8:43 am - Reply

      Does anybody know why the Chicks scream between every bite Gracie feeds them?

      • karin August 19, 2015 at 4:45 pm - Reply

        Mitchell, My husband thinks they are saying thank you….. I think the little piggies are saying Feed Me! Feed Me! 🙂

    71. Kathryn k August 19, 2015 at 8:43 am - Reply

      G & G are still here. Gracie brought a fish at 8:39 and George was there too with Rodney there to eat.

    72. Jan August 19, 2015 at 7:54 am - Reply

      Empty Nest! Miss them already!!

      • Coleen August 19, 2015 at 10:50 am - Reply

        Not empty nest. They’re both in nest with a parent, eeeping and cheeping for that fish.

      • Jai August 19, 2015 at 11:49 am - Reply

        Not gone south yet. We have some time to enjoy them 🙂

    73. June c August 18, 2015 at 10:10 pm - Reply

      10 PM Sandy by herself in nest,,hope she has some company later..

    74. Sandy - Massapequa August 18, 2015 at 9:30 pm - Reply

      9:15 — I just read and watched the last 4 hours. I’m a little confused as the comments of Gracie being gone? I know there was an adult that delivered half a fish about 5pm and I believe Sandy went for it before Ronnie. The most amazing display of catch me if you can type of flying around, as Sandy held on to in in mid air and hovered the nest while catch on talons. ( i don’t know why i feel its female). Ronnie was chasing her, they both flew out of the next and Sandy quickly came back and ate her fish in peace. Some time after, George or Gracie brought back another half fish and then quickly took off then came back later and Ronnie finishded. About 7pm another fish delivered, this time whole fish and Ronnie owed it. This is my take on this time slot, or could be other way around. Ronnie’s nails are reallly long and can wrap around the new TRAINING PERCH is see on the far right side of next. Saw Ronnie? perching on it around 8pm. Around 8;30 perhaps, G or G was standing chicks were laying down all looking out into the water and it seems like G or G signaled and said READY and one by one they all took off in a trail, two flew to the left and one to the right. Haven’t seen them in 4 days. Took me awhile to tell them apart.
      If Gracie did leave, it makes me sad. Wonder where she is now?

      • Karin N August 19, 2015 at 6:22 am - Reply

        Hi Sandy, Gracie is not gone by no means yet. As a matter of fact, I think it was about 5-6 pm George, Gracie & kids in the nest. George only stays less than a minute. I like that you said The Training Perch..
        .

      • Jara August 19, 2015 at 8:38 am - Reply

        Sandy, I also watched with amusement as Sandy took the fish and played keep-away with Ronnie. I think she’s realized that she’s going to have to fight to stay fed. I do wish she’d start catching her own fish though. But during the confrontation, I noticed that the black stripe on Ronnie’s head is wider than Sandy’s. Now I have another way to tell them apart.

    75. Jeff August 18, 2015 at 8:48 pm - Reply

      At about 7:30pm, there was a family gathering in the nest – Gracie was already there with Ronnie & Sandy, when George joined them, bringing with him some more seaweed to add to the nest! That was sweet. Enjoy the time you all have together!

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