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osprey 07/11/15 squirt
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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.
IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts
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.
Paul 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.
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
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
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
5:13 – Gracie really trying to block a chick from falling out of nest. Chick is going to close to the edge.
I mean too close to the edge – sorry – it is really scary
June 20- 1:53 am- Even though we had lost the video streaming of OZ I still continued to check the site periodically during the evening/early morning hours. On my last check-in, I found footage from June 19 on OZ and so I decided to take just a small video of the chicks for those who may not have gotten to see them yesterday. Considering we can’t see the chicks or George and Gracie threw a lens that has been pooped on, I thought maybe this video would at least allow us a quick last glimpse (for now) of our Osprey Family.
https://youtu.be/1J_Bvrzt7gk
Leanne: Post at 3 am!! I guess the insomnia is back 🙁 Glad to see videos!! … but where are the rest??!!
June 20- 2:34 pm- Yeah, my sleep schedule has never been normal. Some nights I’m in bed by 8 and some nights I never get any sleep. Naps during the day are easy for me though. 🙂
After the little one flipped over I noticed the legs and feet are not developing as they should which could mean a birth defect even though it is eating well. I am surprised that the mother is feeding it or that the other siblings are accepting of the little fella. That could change as they get older and more developed as natural instincts start to show.
Rjoneal & CarolV: Tried to post this a couple of days ago, but it didn’t go through. Trying again!!
Thanks kathyB 😉 , for now it’s just a nickname..i’m glad you like it i think it fits for now until the final contest decision of all three names;-)
Godspeed George Gracie and family, it was fun till now.
Check out the last moments on rewind.
Will take a rain dance with sustained winds possibly continue watching now.
Please consider differing that camera mount next season.
8:49pm BETSY..pardon me for being a bit slow..do you think all those snarky people were the work of the troll? I don’t remember that much dissension previously. It was getting uncomfortable, sort of like “Mean Girls” and I’m way too old for that !!!! Occasional disagreements, sure.
I just hope it’s over and we all abide by “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”.
I know there were three, but think more likely five!!
BETSY..was already checking youtube for the squirt that took out OZ. Figured you have no life, like me.JK.
CarolV: Yesterday I had a life … and came home to see … nothing!!!!!
3:45 a direct shot to the lens so there is no view now, lol. We need some rain now to clean it off.
Ready, aim, FIRE!!! Bulls eye! No more being afraid to watch the babies get too close to the edge, cause can’t see ’em now!! Any rain in the forecast?
June 19 @ 7:30 p.m. (EST). At about 6:40 either baby 1 or 2 squired and the lens is now completely covered over. It may rain on Tuesday but till then there will be no viewing of what will be going on. I have ben happy to see that the upper left side of the nest has been built up not only as a barrier against any of the babies falling over but that that wad of fishing line is now completely covered over. Just wish the rest of the edges of the nest were built up also. I was observing a nest on the south shore last week on a man made platform and thought that that nest was very flat-had no high edges on it. I could see there were osprey in the nest but could not tell if the were adults or babies, I was too far away from it.
Well there goes the season. I predicted it would be another week or so, but here it is- the view is gone with the last PS from #2( or #1).
So sad, all the fun is over. We can always hope for a hard rain but once it dries, that won’t work.
Maybe next year the camera position will be adjusted.
Relax. This is one of the best views of an osprey next I’ve ever seen. I would not readjust this camera, we just have to deal with a few days of dirt. Now that the feed is back up again, you can still see what’s going on. I’m sure it will clear a bit more.
June 19, 2016, 5:45 pm. After review of the ps incident, I have an update. The next to the oldest chick (chick #2) was the culprit. George was at the left edge of nest watching as chick #2 did a ps on the nest, then chick #2 looked at camera, opened his/her beak as if to say “you are gonna get it”, turned around, lifted his/her backside to the camera and squirted. It was funny to watch at the time, but not so funny because we cannot see anything anymore. I think right now that an appropriate name for chick #2 should be “BIG SQUIRT”.
June 19 – 17:45 # 2 chicklet blows up the whole show!!!! Actually makes the effort to turn around and do his business! Yikes, I wonder how
this is going to be solved, if at all? PS isn’t something OZ anticipated.
SOB…it sounds like they’re wating and looks like my favorite light of the day…..booooooohoooooooo..does this mean I have to get a life? Because apparently, I don’t have one
That was eating…
Who did the poo?
Was it 1, was it 2?
#3, it wasn’t you, cause with us YOU wouldn’.t screw…
Was it you, or was it you?
who did the poo, you naughty boo…
What will we do?
You spoiled the view !!!!!!!!
Who’s doing the poem for rain?
lol was it #1 or #2 lol get it?
Just got back from being out most of the day … can’t see sh*t … uh, I mean, can only see sh*t!! 😀 Which one squirted??!!
17:45:11 EDT / 5:45:11 pm EDT – Direct hit to the camera lens. Now we’re all gonna start singing the ♫ “Squirt Curtain” ♪ blues! 🙁 lol
June 19- 5:28 pm- For Those Who May Have Missed It:
https://youtu.be/i31rJ1LzQbA
Oh my! Thank you for the “action shot”! It is supposed to rain tonight- maybe that will help. Or maybe we could get that PSE&G guy again to come with his windex 🙂
Oh my goodness ,,, one of those babies did a big poo on the camera lens (lol) – guess we will have to wait 🙁 until when Tuesdays rains wash it off. PeeWee II got to eat well tonight around 5:00 as did the other two. Glad she/he is getting bigger and stronger every day !!! George is doing good with bringing fish to the nest this year. Keep up the good work !
June 19- 5:23 pm- I scrolled back and I swear that squirt was intentional. 🙂 Camera shy?
17:45:15 on 06/19/17 – Wynken (or was it Blynken) decided he wanted some privacy and gave the lens a good squirt. Well worth watching.
June 19, 2016, 5:45 pm. One of the older chicks just turned his backside around toward the camera and decorated practically the whole lense. I think we should all do a rain dance for rain to wash off the camera lense, or windex with a squeege on a long pole. What a mess!!
GOOD JOB on whoever aimed for the lens! Talk about a direct hit. Now we all have to wait for a whale of a storm to clean the lens…….?
5:45pmEDT OH CRAP!!!! Was that #1 who did #2 ?
so much for Strawberry Moon views………
June 19- 5:07 pm- Patience as a name possibility if chick 3 is a female.
😀
Oh the little tike is on it’s back! I sure hope Mom or Dad help the little one get righted up……….. 4:23pm
3:15pmEDT..Nestwork to catch up on and the big kids are fighting…what’s a mother to do?
3:20-George comes trailing in with a glob and two long grasses hanging out behind him. looked like a lyre bird!
4:16pm Trey managed to flip himself over again,,,was stuck upside down and pointed downslope, so he had no traction. Gracie was very concerned. and tried moving things around (even if they weren’t in the way) and digging at the grasses. He’s been that way for at least 15 mins. She just cuddled in to him, so maybe he can get righted by pushing against her…….I’m starting to worry, and I don’t usually….BTW..There’s no doubt that he was well fed before; looks like a barrel with tiny wings…Don’t want to post tlill I see he’s up(now 4:38)
4:39pm George just brought in a fish..Gracie is chirping to him but not getting up..THE SUSPENSE !!!!
George decides to feed Gracie..stress eating (just kidding, people !) I have fish to fry..really, so computer is traveling…YYYYYAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!4:49-Gracie gets up and Trey is rightside up! And exhausted…..
CarolV and everyone: Want a video? (It was over 1/2 hour from when he rolled (it WAS funny) until, like CarolV described, we could see the little one and he was right side up!!)
You gotta love animals and kids——–we’re all traumatized and Trey is right in there with the sibs, as Gracie starts feeding them. And he’s grabbing from in front of what looks like Big Guy #1? Must have worked off some calories!!!
CarolV: had to look it up!! Beautiful bird!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrebird
Hi, everyone. I’ve been lurks nag for a while, but have missed the last couple of days. How’s the little one doing?
Hi Lil Bit is doing great!!
BTW Mike Martin: I work in retail and that double whammy has brought the super crazies out in force !!! Just sayin”………
Maybe THAT explains the recent events!! 😀
1:54pmEDT- BIG headless fish brought in..sure to be some for later..Chicks barely stir and Gracie is enjoying the sunshine, so George gets to munch for a while more….crunch, crunch
Beautiful views of the bay and all the boaters enjoying a gorgeous June day ! Gracie chirping in her sleep. I think. George right there with fish and she can’t be bothered to move-wants to be served lunch, perhaps?
2:21pm One big weeble must be over getting fed by George( in the fog) and the second weeble just ankled over there…Trey still in ospreydreamland. Gracie still complaining quietly(for her). Trey just woke up and Gracie making a move….2:27..Interception and possession to Gracie.2:28-George just flew across the bay view..One chick looks like it followed Gracie, but osprey butt is the main view right now.
2:30- George working off his big lunch with a seaweed delivery.And some nestorations.,,,,Can’t tell if Trey finished waking up to come eat……seems to be more than one mouth being fed, and one big chick is asleep in the fogbank. I tried poking Gra with the cursor but she doesn’t move…….ok..2nd big chick taking in the view over by George, and Gra still working…so I think everyone well fed.
😀 … make it 2 for the cursor poke! 😀
May have been wrong about leftovers..Gracie still eating @2:57
The way Gracie sometimes gets right up into the camera lens with her tail feathers, maybe she’ll clear the lens off for us!! 😀
Well, I see after getting back, that that’s out of the question!! 😀
it’s 150 pm and I’m just catching up on action and see beautiful hover during delivery of stick at approx 11:44 am. Looked more like helicopter coming in for landing…..perfect!
By the way, I was glad that Betsy did post that video. Now I can see how rapidly the little one is growing, too. Makes me feel happy.
NOW I see this post after I already wrote below!! However, I’m glad that I explained myself to everyone … I was watching “live” when it happened, and I was really worried for the little one. And, there had been a vicious fight just a little while earlier between the 2 older chicks (with the little one standing right next to them getting jostled and getting or giving a peck or two) at 9:49 am. As rjoneal stated, for some reason there seems (or, seemed — I haven’t really seen a lot of fighting going on, if any, the past day or so … and now we can’t see anything, so, I better put heard 😀 ) to be a lot of fighting going on that can’t possibly be food-scarcity related. So, as people on other sites and experts have wondered, why has/had this been happening.
Betsy, that video of the chick fight was very upsetting. I saw that Peanut ended up with a few nicks on the left side of his head. He is very feisty, doesn’t let them take advantage of him. I just wish he would’ve let it go and make believe he fell asleep, so that he didn’t have to endure the rest of the pummeling. He sure has a strong will, which is wonderful. Let’s hope he remains safe. We are all pulling for him.
Marlene: It was, and I’m sorry for that … and yes he did get wounds deep enough to bleed. I debated with myself whether or not to post it (as can be evidenced by the date that I posted it and the date that it happened). It’s just that when I read comments not taking the fight or fights very seriously or that the chicks are just roughhousing and knowing that this is their real life way of establishing their pecking order and that this can escalate to where a chick is pecked to death by a sibling, the only way I thought that I could hammer home the fact that this stuff is serious was to post the video. Again, I apologize for upsetting people.
And, I need to add, that the viewers saw this occur in real life at the nest last year.
Happy Father’s Day!! (George) and everyone! ;-):-):-)
CarolV: I added your ”No ospreys were harmed in the making of this video” to “The Flapping Fish” video!! That was great!! Thanks!! 😀
Your welcome!
Big Baby backed up to center of nest to squirt and MISSED the lens! Thank you, thank you! Great to see the bountiful food supply, so far so good this season.
Happy Fathers Day!!
Happy Dad’s day George! And to all Father’s out there also. Our ‘guy’ is sure doing a bang up job of building up the walls for his wandering kids. Good job Dad!
12:12pmEDT George brings in a long, shiny headless fish..He must have been on the perch as he was calling a few minutes ago and Gracie was eyeballing in that direction and making remarks…Trey practically has his head in the fish as Gracie dismantles it and feeds the big guy.He’s right there, bouncing, waiting his turn. George is standing, looking handsome, scanning the skies.It’s Trey’s turn now. Judging by the bellies in these babies, I don’t think we need to worry about them tipping out of the nest!
Just as CarolV described in her June 19, 2016 7:22 am comment, brought to you in living color!! George on the left and Gracie on the right, framing the chicks!! The video stream had gotten choppy, so I ended the clip shortly after that started. The feeding was almost over by a little after 7:17 am … George did a little alarming and then flew away at 7:18 am, leaving the rest of the fish behind.
https://youtu.be/TMA2dhxmPnU
Yes it is the little one – this is absolutely that last post from me on this subject –
Goodness, maybe it is not the little one – either way, it is adorable.
Little one keeps following her mother’s foot and lays on it.
Little one sleeping on mother’s foot. Adorable!
11:49amEDT Scrolled back about an hour to see Trey huddling near Mom…Gracie doesn’t seem to do the “mombrella” act..I believe that was a topic last year, too. Is it just not hot enough?
There seems to be a gap in the video from about 10:50-11:o7…was anyone watching in real time? Gracie seems to be feeding chicks now.I see that Trey is getting some fish, while one chick sleeps, and large chick (#1?) gets stuffed!! Can barely waddle !!!
11:18..Trey is hangin’ with Uno and Dos, while the big guys preen their emerging feathers. Soon enough, I guess, Trey will be dark like them as his feathers push through.@11:30, he’s under Mom again for some shade….as she naps.@11:39-Gracie goes off for a stroll and Trey wonders where the shade went..George comes in. Gracie is back shortly with a branch for the pile.
High Noon and Trey is asleep on Mom’s foot as Gracie chatters for George with luncheon suggestions.
CarolV: Didn’t see that gap live either … at first, when I saw it, I thought it had been cut out because something bad had happened [although, it’s only a 1 or 2 minute time lapse between “real” time and what the time shows on the video — or maybe my ISP is just slow]!! … but then I saw that “everybody” was okay, so that ruled that out. But I didn’t have time to go back to see if or where the other minutes were (everyone: there have been time warps before where somehow the video jumps to an earlier time before continuing … kind of as if you were reading a book and at page 100 you realized you hadn’t really been paying attention to what you had read for the last several pages, so you go back to page 95 and continue reading from there!!). 😀
Thanks to everyone who posts videos! I watch on an iPad and it doesn’t allow me to scroll back. Without your videos I’d miss out on a lot!
Reply-Phil if you go back in previous comments you will see lots of information,website links and videos that Betsy and Leeanne and a lot of our devoted Osprey zone followers have put out there and made before the babies hatched. There is also some about the different types of feathers the ospreys develop as they are growing please try to check into it very informative.
This is the first year with very few exceptions that Paul, Aiden and our landlords have allowed us to be able to post video so please take advantage of it and watch some videos that they have allowed on here. there is also one about fish kills that happen last year. If you can’t find let me know I will try to find for you lots of information on the site you just have to be patient and go through comments to find it.
By the way I don’t know if you’re new to the site but if you are welcome if not welcome back !
Reply-Laura good video. I too love to take shots when the little birdies jump up on the nest and visit our Osprey family It was even funnier at the beginning of the year when they were stealing all of George’s nest materials he kept bringing in. Of course they could only grab one or two little pieces of dried grass or hay whatever it was at a time but it was funny to watch them fly up and steal it The sparrows are pretty smart birds knowing to build their nest under an osprey nest for protection and they have all the materials they need.
#3 looks bigger and healthier and seems to be eating better than poor #3 last year. And I’m not seeing the abuse from the two older chicks. Hope.
9:41amEDT George landed on perch..Gracie chatting with him, getting a little louder…..@9:52, Geo dropped into nest with something that Gra took from him. No one else seems to be waking up, but Gracie is rudely standing in the way……….at least, she’s getting a good, uninterrupted meal….uh. oh. off to right, Trey wakes up from chick line-up…..@10a.m, as he starts to waddle towards Mom, he poops so hard, he tumbles over, and it flies on Gracie ! I hope someone posts that!
After he recovered from that mighty effort,it looked like he got in on the feeding. Other two were still sleeping…..Poor Gracie…what’s a mom to do? Shit happens…………
OZ followers glad to see so many post by so many different people almost like last year love talking about our ospreys. And here we go again baby squirt on the camera lens. Happy Father’s Day to George he actually slept in today for his Father’s Day !
Love love love when Geo was feeding the babies and Gracie and Gracie was feeding baby3 Wonderful how they work together as a team George and Gracie. Love how bonded they are this year. Can’t get enough pictures of them with the family. I think George needs to take a class on how to build a better nest. Last year was a little bit better this year we need bumper baby rails these babies are all over the place. Keep the comments going everybody love seeing everyone posting.
Rjoneal: I was just happy to see the “veranda” built out over the fishing line snarl !!!!! Hope it is enough protection to keep the kids talons out of that mess.!
Rjoneal and CarolV: I’ll try to get the full length of the video again, it’s just going to be jumpy toward the end!! (It always seems to happen at the best times!! 😀 )
Welp, game over man. At about 5:45PM ET one of the larger chicks squirted right onto the lens. Until we get a strong southeasterly rain we won’t be seeing much I reckon’. Alas. Pray for those strong summer storm rains from the Atlantic!
Maybe a little rain will clean the lens…..of, course – no rain in sight this week.
9:08amEDT..Gracie is on far edge of nest , preening and flapping, getting her feathers in order; one chick is off to right, starting to imitate her…too cute!
Trey has a brown cap that I didnt notice yesterday..feathers popping, i guess.
Why is the lens all cloudy? June 20 8 AM
June 19- 9:51 am- Happy Father’s Day, George. 🙂
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxvbB-csLvK8cUoxVHptQk9DVDg
Above is the link to the video shot of Tiny Hiney nailing a sparrow with jet propelled osprey poop!! June 18, 2016 time: 12:20:46
Laura: That is too funny … I still have time, I going to look now!!
Oh, shucks, just realized I’m 24 hours too late!!
How about a 60′ pole with a squeegee on the end?
😀 And, I think you had another idea yesterday or the day before … but I never did catch up on all of the comments!! I will, eventually!! 😀
And, I did: bug zapper (on June 17th)!! 😀
Reply-Micheal G Martin – thanks for all the wonderful info and keeping us posted. Betsy posted a video about Tammy the troll on YouTube you nailed it she is a fake. You always give informative information love learning as much as I can. At least the blur or squirt or fog is on the right side of the lens and we can still see last year it was directly in the middle I’m sure that’ll be next. Fingers crossed that the lens will stay clear.
Rjoneal: Sometimes ya just gotta use a sledgehammer … since I know I don’t have direct conversations with anyone!! 😀
Well now we are completely blind
GREAT father he ist, spoket oo soon about clean lenses
Hello,
I recently found this site after an Osprey pair built a nest on a camera tower at our local news channel and I was doing some researching. I have really been into watching everything going on and then I read about what happened last year and the littlest baby this year is concerning me. I’m quite confused as to why the parents allow the bullying to get out of hand like that because everything I’ve read says that Osprey are very good and caring parents, but at any rate I am going to hope for the best for the baby and try checking back every few days I know that nature can and is sometimes harsh but I really don’t want to watch it right in front of my eyes.
I am also new to this site having started in early May. I was also confused about what had happened to that third chick last year. You can go back to read the earlier posts from last year by clicking on the lower numbers at the bottom of the page. It all started around end of June into early July. Wasn’t a pleasant experience and some did tune out for a while. Apparently there was a huge die off of bunker fish and George wasn’t able to supply enough food for all 3 so the larger two took care of business! That’s just how nature works. Hopefully that will and should not happen this year.
These parents are following natural instinct, also George & Gracie are animals, viewers sometimes forget this and try comparing them to humans. It’s a wildlife nature show, not the Donna Reed show.
This is my second year watching OZ. From what I understand, the way things “roll” in the nest is “survival of the fittest”. We tend to attribute human traits to the Osprey’s, no one is allowing bullying, the healthiest and fittest will survive, nature can be cruel, but at the end of the day, sadly, that’s how it works.
Osprey are very good and caring parents. But, it’s not that George and Gracie (or other osprey parents) are allowing bullying, this is just how it works with nature. As harsh and as awful as it is for us to see it when this happens, think of it this way: “… a raptor chick must be tough in order to survive in the nest. But this is Nature’s way of weeding out the weak and ensuring that the ones most likely to survive will get fed and nurtured. In the end, it is only the strongest chicks that can prosper in the larger world with all the challenges that await them – both natural and man-made …” (http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/osprey_cam_blog06/archives/000141.html).
However, I wish to add, humans have a conscience or a sense of right and wrong, and yet, there are human parents who abuse, neglect, and bully their children or one or more particular child or children and/or allow (and this time it is “allow”) other siblings to do likewise.
Great Betsy thanks yes humans are such terrible creatures. We have repeatedly heard you say this kind of thing already. Thanks
And, it can’t be stressed enough that some are!! Especially when there are comments repeatedly made about G&G “allowing” or “not stopping” certain behaviors that are just how it works in nature. BTW, is Tammy a friend of yours?
“chicks line up”, sorry
I liked ciocks….
7:10 on screen- george brings in fish, all ciocks line up to be fed, gracie grabs bits and feeds to lil guy, she is a great mom;)
Sunday at 7:08…think 2nd fish of the morning..bigger chicks where being fed by George…Gracie seeing little one not being fed..Gracie took the fish from George and made sure the little one got fed..At first I thought she was taking it for herself..its too bad this comment will not show up until Monday..it was beautiful to watch..
Happy Fathers day to all the Dads out there!
Dad is competing for Father of the day by taking food from Mom and feeding the lil one while she fed the older siblng…what a great moment…what a dad!!! Happy Father’s Day George!! 🙂
What a great pair these osprey are! I just witnessed Gracie feeding the chicks and she gave fish to George who then fed Itty Bitty! This happened multiple times.
All 3 babies are eating well this am Sun 6-19 even the littliest! 7:00 am
6:00amEDT George brings in a whole fish. Gracie took it and the chicks lined up. Uno and Dos double teamed Trey and held him under their wings while they ate, but he seemed to be just quietly waiting. After about 20 mins., Trey popped out and, reaching around Uno?; was well fed, including some nice, stringy guts. All settle in for morning nap. Temps in low 60s now; sunny day with temps in low-mid 70s; perfect June day in ospreyland…
7am-George just in a minute ago with the leftovers. Feeding is a relaxed family affair. Gracie stays seated while George passes fish around. He feeds the big guys and passes off chunks to Gracie. She feeds whatever beak is in reach, then concentrates on Trey, who is closest to her. Trey took a couple swipes at sib for getting in his airspace and slowing down his feeding, but all was peaceful. About 7:17, pesty must have come around, as G&G both started alarming.
Video is a little jumpy, but no Criss Angel moments.
CarolV: I thought it would make a nice video, the chicks framed between George on the left and Gracie on the right, the clouding of the lens on the right side and the sun’s soft glare on the left side adding a dream-like feel … and then after about 10 minutes the video started jumping!! So much for that!! 😀
4:48amEDT 6/19 Gracie is up and stretching. George is on the perch and there’s a lot of loud chirping asin alarming. A fewminutes later, Gracie was in the blurry area and it looked like she might be feeding the chicks. There was that soft sound they make when getting fed. I guess there might have been some leftovers, because I didn’t see George come in.Session was brief.
Is the smallest one getting his fair share of food?
Hello Group
If anyone is interested
Monday June 20 2016 we celebrate The Summer Solstice, typically the Longest Day of the Year. The Sun rises at approximately
05:19 hrs EDST and sets at approximately
20:23 hrs EDST which will give Our Osprey Family approximately 15hrs and 04mins of Daylight.
Also on Monday June 20 2015 the Moon will rise at approximately 20:32hrs and
will set at approximately 06:26hrs this will give our Osprey Family a Full Moon
The occurrence of a Full Moon and the Summer Solstice falling on the same day hasn’t happened in 70 years.
This Full Moon is also called The Strawberry Moon, which marks the start of Strawberry Picking Season.
For those of us and our Osprey Family who live on The North Fork of Long Island starts our Strawberry Festival.
With all this said, I want to pose a question to the group and the researchers amongst us all.
Our Osprey’s natural instincts are governed by the Laws of Nature i.e. Migrating, Navigation and the Gravitational Pull and in affect Radiation given off by the Solar Winds.
So with the Summer Solstice and the Full Moon happening at the same time, will it have any Strange or Bizzare effects on our Osprey Family. Let’s wait and see if this comes to pass. I know I’ll be Watching
Some more “Food for Thought ”
Mike .
Thank you Mike for a very informative weather event. Who Knew??
Lets hope for clear skies so that Strawberry moon lights up the nest with its glow. Often, like last night, there is just enough moonlight to see a halfway decent picture. I am jealous of the Ospreys’s view!
Thanks, Mike, for that info!! It will be interesting to see how they react or if they do!!
Thanks Mike! I know I will be watching 🙂
Thank you if info….never new it was called a strawberry moon…make sure on site tomorrow night, should be a beautiful sunset..
Should have been for not if ..
Thanks for the interesting info Mike.
Sorry if this appears more than once but I’m having a problem posting. Thanks for the interesting info Mike.
Thanks Mike for the info on the Solstice and the Full Moon. May I suggest to our viewers, take the time to watch the Moonrise- just look east. Get yourself to an open space where you can see the horizon. The sunrise is more popular. However, many Moons ago when my kids were small I’d take them to watch the Moonrise at the beach we all had a great time. It’s breathtaking and I think the skies will be clear tomorrow get there early you won’t want to miss it! Cheers Tucker
Tucker: Thanks for the tip!! Just confirming that the moon will rise at approximately 20:32 hrs. Now, just point me east!!
Kathy B: I’m not sure what you saw on June 17th at 10:20 am.
https://youtu.be/MameZF6ojTw
Yea Betsy, little one “Chickpea” standing up for himself ! He was biting back. No it’s probably not play but good that he’s not cowering in a corner. You are new here this year are you not?
KathyB: Yes, I’m new this year. I started watching the site last year a little before Sandy and Ronnie fledged. I tried to read the comments then … but with everyone calling the George and Gracie or Sandy and Ronnie by different names, I gave up reading and only watched!! 😀 The little one was biting and fighting back, but he still got pummeled by #1, with #1 getting the last word/peck in!! (And, #3 started the whole thing!!)
OK…That was hard to watch, but it looked like Trey was the aggressor and got his butt kicked. Gracie seemed to be trying to distract but each time big chick(#2?) started to turn, mr.short-in-stature bit a wing and it started again. Baby needs to sit in the corner……
CarolV: I think Gracie was trying to stop it in the only way she knew how, with the fish. I’ve seen her do that before!!
I know—“Nobody puts Baby in a corner”…….
CarolV: 😀 I’m telling you, you need to name my videos for me!!!
How wonderful to see Baby Boo, a.k.a Peanut, play fighting with one of the siblings! I’ve watch them from hatching and I too was very, very worried about his small development and him not getting a chance to get any food. However, he is now holding his own. He/she is a true survivor and will be just fine. I love that Baby Boo is more of a cream colored. This site is a blessing of nature, peace, strength, and wonder.
Very interesting how you can hear the chicks’ cries much clearer in slow motion. Nice job Betsy!
Bostonwatcher: You’re welcome!!
When and how will we be able to tell if the chicks are boys or girls?
You can’t tell without a blood test. Usually the first born is female….after that it’s a guess.
Never…short of DNA test; there will be no differenciation till they are adults and we won’t see them then. We did some guessing last year based on personality but it was strictly guesswork.
At 5:00 p.m., George is on the perch with a large live fish. He brings it to the nest, but it is difficult to handle, especially with the nosey two bigger chicks. So, up he goes on the perch again. Well, he never returned with that fish. I did scroll forward from that point, but I did not see any since that time. I think they all look like they are well fed. I, too, worry about the size of the peanut. I don’t remember the other two looking that small at ten days old, but I am not sure. Someone please reassure me that he looks normal size. Also, as one of our ospreyites said, it has happened . . . one of the chicks squirted the screen. Oh, darn.
Wondering what has gotten on the can lense which is smeared on bottom right side? Saw itty bitty one shoot out some pee pee earlier?!! There is probably no way to clean the cam lense without disturbing the family!
Aha! Scrolled to about an hour ago and see him crawl out from underneath his two siblings.
Hmmm! Haven’t been on since early this morning. It is now 8:37 P.M., and unless he’s behind the smudge on the right side of the screen, the little one seems to be gone. Anyone observe anything during the day today. Scrolled back as far as I could, but could find nothing.
June 18, 2016, 8:21 pm. I see chick #3. He is under Gracie. Sorry to be such a “worry wart”.