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Get answers about wild ospreys! Welcome to the Osprey FAQ for the Sandpoint Osprey Cam, a project of Sandpoint Online and the City of Sandpoint. Browse below for an FAQ prepared by our consulting raptor biologist, Janie Fink Veltkamp; scroll down the page to read questions submitted by visitors, with answers from Janie as well as our Nestwatcher Robin Werner. Thanks also to sponsor Avista.
Want to ask a question you don’t see here? Click to the form at bottom of page »
Want to watch our wild ospreys? Click to the Sandpoint Ospreys live web cam »
Janie Fink Veltkamp, executive director of Birds of Prey Northwest, is the Sandpoint osprey cam’s consulting biologist. Based in St. Maries, Idaho, BOPNW promotes raptor conservation through educational programs with live birds of prey. It also provides medical treatment and rehabilitation to injured raptors with the goal of returning them to the wild. Janie provides answers here to common questions. Questions below from site visitors are answered or facilitated by our Nestwatcher Robin Werner.
How is a nest cam like this helpful to conservation and education efforts?
The camera will help viewers understand all the complexities of nest building, breeding, and raising young ospreys. Mated for life, these raptors will need to cooperate to hatch their young, feed them as they grow, and protect them from the elements until they leave the nest. Fish eating birds of prey such as the osprey serve as bioindicators, barometers to the ecology around them. Conservation of their habitat helps humans too. This is an opportunity to view into the life of an osprey family that promises to delight!
Does the same osprey pair come back to the same nest each year?
Ospreys have a high nest-site fidelity and return to previously existing nest structures each year. You are likely seeing the same pair if you observe two birds early in the season at this nest site. The perils are many as the ospreys return from their wintering grounds – sometimes as far south as South America! Should its mate not return, the male will likely attract another mate. Mortality factors for the osprey include electrocution, illegal shooting and vehicle collision.
Birds of Prey Northwest biologist Jane Fink with a rehabilitated osprey.
Due to the new nesting platform, the osprey are coming back to just a few sticks, compared to the big nest they had last year. What kind of behavior should we watch for to start?
Initially after the pair return, you will likely see, the male particularly, bringing sticks to the nest and beginning to refurbish the nest. They will both be present often thereafter as mating and egg laying commence.
What are some of the unusual characteristics of ospreys?
Ospreys are unique birds of prey in that they are the only raptor to eat exclusively fish. They are found on five continents worldwide and four subspecies exist. In North Idaho we have one of the largest osprey breeding populations west of the Rockies, thanks to our shallow lakes and ample fishing opportunities.
How are ospreys especially adapted for hunting fish?
Ospreys are the consummate fishermen, hence their nickname “fish hawk” – though officially their Latin name is Pandion haliaetus. Several adaptations allow for their expert fishing skills, including a reversible outer toe for grabbing fish, special pads on the feet for holding on to slippery fish, dislocatable shoulder joints, underwater vision, a fleshy nostril that closes and the ability to dive into the water at high speeds after fish- feet first. Their special feathers are good at shedding water quickly.
How can you distinguish between the males and females?
As with all birds of prey, the females are often larger than the males – some females have wingspans approaching five feet, and weigh up to four pounds; males weigh in at two pounds. They have a characteristic black stripe through the eye and have charcoal and white feathers. In youth the eye is orange, in adulthood it becomes yellow. Ospreys mature after two years of age. Ospreys may nest atop man-made structures and place their large stick nests near human activities. These raptors have a high nest fidelity and return after long southerly migrations to the very nest from the previous year. Ospreys mate for life and are devoted parents. Young are full grown at six weeks and leave the nest at about eight to ten weeks of age taking their first flights. Like all raptors, osprey have a high mortality rate in the first year of life. Ospreys are migratory and travel long distances south – as far as Central and South America, where they over winter until spring.
Are there healthy populations of osprey?
Historically the osprey was endangered due to use of DDT, a pesticide applied across North America that ended up in the food chain. Osprey, bald eagles and peregrine falcons were the most affected species of raptors, and by the early 1970s DDT was banned as the populations of these species began to plummet to perilously low numbers. Thanks to protective laws, banning the use of DDT and reintroduction efforts the osprey populations have now recovered and the osprey has been removed from the Endangered Species List!
Learn more about ospreys, and many other species of raptors at BirdsOfPreyNorthwest.org»
983 Responses
Hi, I’ve been watching the Barnegat Light Osprey cam. The new mother has 3 chicks. The third being so small and often not getting food. Why doesn’t the mother feed the weaker one? It seems the little tyke will perish from starvation. What kind of behavior do they have and why not be sure all are fed? It saddens me to watch.
I’m watching an osprey cam and see that the second osprey hatched constantly pecks at the last osprey hatched. Each time the baby tries to eat from the mother, the second ones chases it and pecks. Why does this happen?
Are chicks ever left alone? ie, if i watch a nest from ground for a few hours around this time of year, and see that at least one osprey remains in the nest, is that indicative of there being chicks, or eggs, in the nest? Alternatively, if I see both ospreys leaving nest for a few minutes or more, does that mean that there are no eggs or chicks?
When does the little ones leave the nest here in the Hampton roads area. Is it in July, August or later.
Thank you and have a nice day
I have been watching an Osprey Cam from sturgeon lake MN and this year half the nest is littered with fish parts that are now crawling with flies. I haven’t seen this before. Is that normal to have too much fish sitting around?
Installed an Osprey nesting platform three years ago at the end of my long dock. It faces open water of the mouth of the Magothy River in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay. I have been lucky enough to have the same mated pair come back each April and they finally built up a good enough nest for the female to faithfully sit on for about 40 days. Our neighbor, through unfortunate timing, started building a new dock where workers and their boats and barges have for three months been in close and noisy proximity of the nest. They were asked politely to stay further away, as the parent birds seemed very upset,but it was not to be. Last week it seems the nest has been abandoned and it looked as if the female was kicking out something from deep down inside. They come back from time to time,but no one sits on the nest itself anymore. Could the commotion of the nearby construction have been enough to keep the female from staying on the nest enough to hatch chicks? I am worried about the placement of the nest perhaps too much water traffic? Winds too harsh? Please help,
Have an osprey on top of a tree comes and goes for days
Why is he here?
I noticed that birds probably crows were attacking the osprey as they sat on the nest so much so that she or he had to leave the nest. Why would that be happening? Do they eat and and attack the eggs and hatchlings? The pair returned a few times after that which was a few weeks ago but nothing since. This is in central Florida and the second year in a row without chicks at this nest. Could it also be the temperature it had been warmer than usual.
We have a siren mounted on a standalone telephone pole at one of our fire stations, and the Osprey built a nest on top of the siren so now we can’t use the siren. If we put up another pole elsewhere on the property, how do we get them to move to the new location next year and not build on top of our siren?
We live on the Eastern Shore of MD and built a nice platform for our ospreys. They are now on their third season of raising their young on it. My husband wants to install a solar powered camera on the perch of the platform after they leave for the season. Will this deter them from using the nest nest year? Thank you.
I have been observing osprey at Pitt Lake, British Columbia since April 2020. There are poles in the lake, tray shave been places on some of the poles for nests. During incubation period it is assumed that the female sits on the eggs. However, sometimes I get the impression that when the male brings a catch to the nest, the female picks up the food, goes away to the nearby pole to eat, and the male sits on eggs. If this were not the case, why would the male catch the fish, bring it to the nest, then quickly (in seconds) fly away with the food and eat it at a nearby pole?
Thank you
An osprey hovered over me while I was walking alone in the woods, was it keeping me from danger or was it going to hurt me? This is a beautiful bird I’ve been visiting and photographing for 2 years now and she came to greet me when I arrived at the house in cape cod, so I like to think she was protecting me so I turned around left the wooded area and she flew away and I went home. Just curious what her purpose was.
I have been watching an osprey pair through this WWF feed: https://wwf.fi/en/wildlive/osprey/. I have become so invested in them! I noticed that they aren’t sitting on the eggs anymore, and they are both gone from the nest for really long stretches of time (7-8 hours). Does that mean that the eggs aren’t viable? If so, what do they do with the eggs? Will they eventually just toss them out of the nest? I’ll be so sad if no babies hatch!
We have a new nest on a new platform along a canal (Lewes, DE) within eysight of our second floor porch. This past weekend it took two days of direct strong northeast wind and heavy rain. I believe I still see baby heads popping up but have not seen the adults. Would they have abandoned it during the storm? Thinking of calling my local MERR folks but I don’t think they deal with birds.
We had a pair of Osprey (I think they were younger ,last year they didnt build much of a nest ) and we had fires last summer and the pair left.they returned this yearin late March ,built a beautiful nest and seemed to be settling in . We watched through binoculars and sometimes I thought one was looking right at me -would fly near the window when it saw me looking.. anyway it appeared they had at least one egg the male bringing food back and female staying out. Then 2-3 weeks ago one stopped coming and then I saw 2take off and havent seen any in a week. I still hear one occasionally but before anyone took off I observed 1calling and calling for hours . Then saw one sitting on a branch below and to side of nest for an entire day . They that one took off and hasnt been back . Only 1 time since then did you see any birds -just the next day and 2birds left nest – could I have made them abandon by watching from inside my house?? Im like 200yds from them .. where could they have gone? Why do I hear one (not daily anymore but ) I live by a lake and quarter mile from ocean ..I feel bad no one is in nest
[email protected]
In mid 2018 I installed an Osprey platform on 20 ft pole 3 x 3 with perk arm, over water. In 3/2020 2 Osperys started building a nest. That went on for 10 days or so and the female left and we have not seen her since. The male keeps coming back to sit on the perch arm and eats his fish. This year he has not been on the perch much durning the day but roosts almost every night. Is it likely he is with the female on another nest and just roosts on my platform. The nest is about 1/2 completed in size. Question is what are my chances of getting a pair in years to come. Will this male get another mate if he has one elsewhere, or came two new one come along as long as he keeps coming back. Thanks Jimmy
This is the first time I’ve ever kept tabs on any kind of wildlife cam, and I’m invested now in the lives of two osprey pairs here on Long Island. Sadly though, one of the nests (3 eggs laid approx 4 weeks ago) seems to be all but abandoned by the parents. I scroll through the feed from hours past and see them there maybe for 10 or 15 minutes then gone again. The nest is basically unguarded all night long. And today I started seeing grackles messing about in the nests and seemingly trying to pick up the eggs (they can’t, apparently). Is it safe to assume the eggs in that one nest are probably not going to hatch? Nature is what it is, but I’d rather focus on the viable nest if so. It’s been a sad year, trying to focus on the positive now!
Hi! We have a pair of nested ospreys who are being harassed by grackles and other blackbirds. This is the first year that they have successfully hatched 2 chicks. The previous years they were also harassed by the same birds and although they might have had eggs…no chicks hatched. Today I watched the blackbirds divebomb and literally land on her while she was protecting her chicks….they are about 2 weeks old now. I am not even sure why they are bothering both adult osprey. The blackbirds even chase them in the air when they have empty talons and not bringing home fish for the nest. Any ideas what we can do to deter these blackbirds from this aggressive behavior?
I built an Osprey Platform about 50 feet out from our pier on the Chesapeake Bay. This year one of the Osprey is constantly landing, eating and pooping on our pier where we have social gatherings. Do you have any ideas for how I can encourage him to stay off our Pier?
We have Ospreys on the same nest for 2 years (man made) The eggs have been alone on the nest for a couple of hours now and I did not see that before. What could be wrong??
Do the male Osprey leave the nest for long periods of time? Thanks
What happens if a Osprey only lays one egg, & will not lay on the egg? What is going on if that same Osprey,then covers the egg with stuff from the nest also throws some of the same material (that makes up the nest) on themselves?
Will a female osprey reject her mate if he is a poor provider?
Can Ospreys and other hawks mate? I saw a raptor that looked like a combination.
At what age do baby Osprey start to call out and cry? I don’t know if its young Osprey or Adult Osprey but do Osprey call out at night and cry? Are they night birds? And if their not night birds then why did I hear them at night time around 10 or 11 o’clock calling out and crying at their nest?
Me and the ole man found an osprey while on the river fishing, it was sitting on a tree branch and the closer we got it still just sat there till we got up on it flew maybe two feet then landed in the water. So we picked it up brought it home to make sure it wasn’t hurt or anything and its not wanting to walk or fly at all. It stands fine but it just sits there and let’s you pet it like a pet. What do I need to do to help this bird? I dont want anything bad to happen to it.
Will the male osprey abandon it’s offspring if the offspring is not ready to migrate when he is?
Thank you.
This Summer will be our 6th season on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. We have thoroughly enjoyed our Osprey each year and they had come to trust and enjoy us. Every Spring they have returned to the same spot, laying eggs, and spending their Summer with us. I was really upset to realize our female did not make it back this year. I know this one is different, as she squawks continuously, where our other female was quiet and used to our activity around the pier. This year, there appeared to be 2 males vying for the attention of one female. Not sure if it was our male that won out, but now there are only two. They often sit together out on the piling platform that is in the water, but neither one has begun to build a nest yet. Does this mean that she hasnt laid any eggs yet? She seems smaller, maybe she is just too young? Hoping to establish as great a relationship as we had with our last birds.
Hi our Milford ct nest doesnt have any eggs yet while other nearby nests do. Is there a problem you think!
I have observed in paired ospreys that the male would stand on yhe females back. He does this several times. I have seen this in a couple different pairs. What is this behaviour for? Is this part of courtship? They certainly arent mating when he repeatedly flies above her then lands on her back. Thank you- let me know if you need pictures.
We’ve had ospreys nesting every summer for the past 5 years or so on the cell tower at the end of our street. They were very noisy today so I went out and looked up. There were three of them flying around in the sky. One looked like it may have been being combative with one of the other ones. Could it be one of their former offspring, or is it an interloper trying to steal a mate or the nest?
There was a man-made nest for Osprey along the gulf in Naples Florida that blew away. Two Osprey have been returning to the site day after day but are not building a nest. They just sit high up on the platform. Whats going on?
Hi, I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We have a young pair of osprey nesting on a platform at the edge of the Chester River. Yesterday there were strong winds and the nest blew away. Both Osprey are on the empty platform today. I collected sticks and placed them on a dock near the platform, but they dont seem too interested. Im not sure if she had already laid her eggs. They are eating fish on the platform today, but making no effort to rebuild. Please let me know if there anything I can or should do to help them rebuild. Thank you so much.
RE: my resident osprey platform w/perch /Rhode Island
The larger of the two birds (evident by its markings and mating behavior is definitely a female) sits most of the day on the perch enjoying life… while her mate (who is considerably smaller) sits in the nest (which, by the way has no evidence of eggs.) and once in a while fetches a few small pieces of nesting material and hap-hazardly drops it into the nest and every so often makes moves like its forming an indentation for the eggs to occupy. Also, I do not see any indication that he is feeding her, but often see him sitting in the nest with cupped wings protecting and enjoying hisr ecent catch…..This seems like some role reversals…and a selfish partner?? Any idea what’s going on here?
We have a pair of osprey nesting on a man made platform on the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier in La Jolla California. One egg hatched this morning…..but I haven’t seen either bird feed the chick! Should I be worried? They have brought fish back to the nest and eaten themselves, but not fed the baby. There is a webcam on the nest, if anyone is interested…
https://scripps.ucsd.edu/piercam
I don’t want to watch if these are just inexperienced parents and the chick doesn’t stand a chance!
There are 3 chicks at the Achieva nest. Two of them are well developed but the third chick is delayed in development do to competition for food that has been irregular.
the #3 chick had a good feed this morning and its crop is full but it hasn’t developed feathers on its chest area. Is that the norm at this stage of its development? Overall size is smaller, wings tend to droop and it doesn’t appear to have strength in its legs.
Can you give me any insight about #3?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXOtB3pjC14
Presumably, once fledged an osprey is just another osprey. If a parent bird is alone, would a chick from a previous years brood be spurned or is there a chicks instinct to mate elsewhere?
I have had a pair come back to the same nest for 3 years now.. this year the male has reached the nest and is waiting for its mate to also return.. how long will he wait at this nest site for his female mate to arrive? It is quite heart wrenching to see him there alone, waiting for almost 4 days now..I live in Central bc, canada
If a female osprey experienced trauma near/in her nest will she come back once recovered from soreness of her fight? The male is still coming back to the perch but she hasnt made it back yet. She was caught and entangled in twine for 5 hrs, then cut free and had a wildlife vet take twine off and do some wing tests. They got her back to her area ASAP and she was resting till she could get some flight.
About the middle of April, while driving down Highway 14 in Vancouver, Washington, I saw two ospreys flying around each other, perhaps fighting. They locked in on each other headfirst and circling around and around like a helicopter, fell down out of the sky, unlocking at the last moment before hitting the ground, and flying apart. Very unusual, to say the least. Would this be fighting or courtship? There was a nest nearby. Thanks.
What happens to osprey that return back to their nest in the Spring without a mate?
We will be taking down a tree about 25 feet from another tree that has an osprey nest in it. Will the work scare the mother away? We scheduled the tree work at a new home. Booked plane tickets to be there while the work is being done. Being from NJ, we know nothing about osprey. The neighbors asked us to wait until the babies are out of the other tree before we do any work. We do not want to reschedule due to several factors, which I won’t go into here. Will a one day job scare the mother away from her babies?
Osprey are back at the nest at the U of O Law Library in Eugene, which has a wonderful web-cam. I have noticed the smaller of the two, I assume the male, engaging in behavior that I would have expected from the female. He gets in front of her, drops his wings and looks at his feet. At first I thought it was the female requesting copulation, but the size difference is evident, and I’m pretty sure it is the male who is begging. Does anybody know if this is what is actually happening? If she gives the appropriate sign, will he then mount. She seems to be ignoring him, although they are engaging in normal nest building work.
We have a new problem with a pair of Canada Geese! We put a pole and rack off our property in the northern neck of Virginia on the Corrotoman River off the Rappahanock about 15 years ago. We have looked forward to welcoming our Osprey every March and up until about 5 years ago enjoyed watching them raise their young. We were not there as frequently and at first did not understand the disappearance of our birds! Then we saw it. The pair of geese bully our Osprey away from the nest and hang out there until time to lay eggs-which she does in the grasses across the side creek from us. Last year we were there full time and managed to scare them away enough until the Osprey laid eggs. Once again we got the joy of watching them raise two young! This year, the 2 Geese have been horrible to them and sadly it looks like they have finally decided its too much trouble and have moved on. How can we stop this bullying so we dont have an empty nest in June? We desperately miss our Osprey!
I recently put up a new osprey stand on wye river. How long does it usually take for ospreys to discover and make a nest?
We had a pair of ospreys build a nest on top of our cell tower last summer. At the end of summer the DNR gave permission to one of the cell tower occupants permission to tear it down . They returned this spring April 2021 and built another nest but I see a second pair of ospreys circling the tower several times. Will they try to take over the nest or could it be the ones that hatched last summer?
Hi~. Our osprey pair laid an egg yesterday evening and I have been watching them incubate all day. However, right now it is raining and 40 degrees out and neither bird is sitting on the egg. I can see what I believe is the male on the perch next to the nest. Just wondering if the developing embryo can survive periods of cold temperatures like this or if I should stop getting my hopes up for a chick. Thanks for any info you have.
I have a telescope on an Osprey nest. Was so excited when I saw 3 heads bobbing up and down. About 4 days after they hatched they were gone. I actually cried for a day. There are eagles around here and I am thinking they got to the babies. The mother still hangs out at the nest and I hear her all the time. Havent seen the dad for awhile. My question is that since there were babies early in March could the female bird lay eggs again in May? We are in Naples Florida.
Good morning my name is Stacey Zimmerman I work at Jupiter High school. We have an environmental Academy. Years past there was an Osprey platform built. We had a storm the other night and it blew the platform apart. The eggs fell out of the nest. I took them to our nearest wildlife refuge to see if they could save the eggs. The Osprey or back trying to build a nest on the existing structure. Should I intervene to rebuild the structure or when is a good time to rebuild this structure? Should I reuse the platform that we have? It is about 25 feet in the air on a telephone pole or can I rebuild the structure further away from a mature tree and what height should I put it out if you recommend rebuilding. Thank you for your help this is very important to the environmental class
We have a very successful breeding pair for the last 5 years. This spring we have 3 osprey in the nest- 2 females and one male. What is up with this ??
We have an osprey platform that 2 ospreys have been building on the last couple of weeks. They have been mating. They have suddenly disappeared for the last 3 days. Is this normal?
I have been noticing that osprey will fly in and land on their mates back jumping up and down. What is this behavior: mating/courtship or dominance of get off my stick/ spot? I have noticed this with more than one pair of osprey.
I’m a trail patrol volunteer for the San Dieguito River Park Coast to Crest trail that starts at the beach in Del Mar, California, and goes to the Julian hills. We’ve had nesting ospreys on a manmade platform near the Del Mar fairgrounds for eight years. I live nearby, so I’ve spent a lot of time watching ospreys. This year there are two chicks. There is also an extra osprey that soars near the nest now and then, causing Mom osprey to shriek and Dad to launch and go after the intruder. The invader has a very distinctive dark narrow feather choker necklace. None of the previous chicks have had a necklace like this. Dad doesn’t seem to try to hurt the osprey, although I’ve seen him go after ravens much more aggressively. He flies near it, behind or above it, and eventually the intruder flies off. The chicks are old enough that they have the adult head markings, white with brown through the eyes. Mom occasionally leaves the nest for a couple of minutes, although she doesn’t go far. My question is, will the intruder osprey hurt the chicks? Would it go after them in the nest or try to hurt them after they fledge? Thanks!
We built a nesting platform at the edge of our dock after ospreys tried to make a nest on top of our boat. They welcomed the platform and now have eggs. Since the substantial platform is attached to the corner of the dock over the water, what happens when the babies take their first trip out of the nest? Will they drown if they dont fly onto the dock? The nest platform is large but only has one elevated post to perch outside the platform raised edges. We couldnt put the platform on land due to taller trees all around.
I have a pair of osprey beginning to build a nest in front of my home on lake norman, NC, and noticed the Male frequently standing on the back of the female, what does this behavior signify?
I have read in our FL local ” Boca Beacon” weekly that Osprey cannot immediately retract their claws from a captured fish. If the fish is too large for theOsprey to get airborne, it will drown with feet still attached to the fish. Fisherman have netted fish that have Osprey feet still attached. When do their claws allow them to release a fish?
Our business has an Osprey platform that we have maintained for several years. It has two cameras on it for public viewing. The ospreys returned to the nest a little over a week ago. My question (couldn’t find a similar one above), is why there would be 3 adults in the nest at the same time? I haven’t noticed this in the past. My only thought was wondering if the third one might be a past fledgling that has returned and that is why the parents are accepting of it?
Thanks,
Andy
Hi, I live on Long Island and all the osprey returned to my town at once. Uncle just wondering on how they all know how to return on the sameness day when they split up and go doc far down south.
Ive got a communication tower outside my office window and Ive been watching a couple ospreys for a few months and I havent seen them in a few days. I know that they lay their eggs now so is it unusual to not see them at all?
I noticed that there are dead birds in the osprey nest in the San Francisco bay. sfbayospreys.org Is this a normal occurrence?
Hi. We’ve had a osprey platform in our marsh for 15 years. They come every year, build their nest beautifully & very big, but leave after 1 month. We have predator protective copper wrapped on our single pole construction. It’s a single pole with 4 supporting beams. 24″ of Copper flashing above supports. Any suggestions? Thanks
Is there any reason, that you know of, why “environmental” people would knock down last year’s nest a week before the ospreys return to NJ?
We have a nest on our property on the Eastern shore Annapolis.(This is our first year in the house so not familiar with the migration pattern)
We saw what I assume might have been the male a day or so ago sitting in the nest. He is now gone. How long before the both of them return? Is it normal that the male comes back to scout before the female arrives?
Good morning.
We have had a pair of osprey return yearly to a nest on a platform next to our community pier. There was a lot of debris including fishing line and other dangerous materials in the nest over the winter so the CBEC removed the entire nest and not just the debris. It seems the osprey are not returning now and I was wondering if they ever will or if there should have been nesting material left and just the hazards removed? We will be very unhappy if they never return to rebuild.
Hello,
We have had a returning pair here in Baltimore, MD on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay for the last 3 years. The last two having a successful breeding season with each raising 3 chicks. Last month a adult bald eagle was occasionally seen in the vacated nest. A few days ago one Osprey returned. So far we have not seen the mate. The eagle has also occasionally perched at the nest when the Osprey is not. We are watching to see who wins the battle of the nest!
Hi,
We live in Eastern MD and enjoy the return of the osprey each spring. A pair arrived a few days ago and began to build on the platform off our shoreline. After comparing them to last years pictures it is fairly obvious this isnt the same pair. Is it more common that not for a nesting pair to return to the same next each year or is it first come first serve? This pair seems early by week or so compared to past springs. Could last years pair return and force this pair off? Thanks in advance, I Enjoy your site!
Curtis
Hello! There is a pair of osprey here in Florida that had been building a nest over the past month on a power line pole I can see from my backyard but yesterday workers came and knocked the nest down. The osprey have been circling the area since and seem distressed. The workers put a traffic cone on top of the pole yesterday and by today the osprey had landed on the cone and started rebuilding the nest. The workers came today and added a metal spike in addition to the cone and knocked down their new progress. Is this allowed? I am worried for the birds as they seem very distressed and persistent on using this location. Are the workers not required to put up a nearby suitable nesting site if they keep removing their nest?
Good afternoon, I built an Osprey platform/ nest at the end of our dock. 10 minutes after I finished Ozzy and Harriet moved right in. She laid 3 eggs and all hatched, Maximus, Louise and Horatio. Sadly Maximus has been so dominant over Louise and Horatio, Horatio died last night. My question is, is it normal for siblings to be so dominant over the competing chicks that they die of starvation and being pecked? We are located in Belleair Fl. 2nd question, once the chicks are able to fly and leave the nest, will they return to home nest? Do I leave the nest as it is for next year? Or do we take it down??
Here is a link to my live feed that runs 24/7 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV-MZSTjh0
Who sits on the eggs the mail or the female Osprey
Hi! Im doing a project on Ospreys for college and cant find anything online on the correct way to handle one. I found lots of informational videos on handling falcons and other birds of prey but not ospreys. So how would I handle an osprey? Thank you so much for answering
A friend says that she has read that Osprey are starting to winter in Oregon. I live in the mid valley and it seems that it would be impossible for them to fish when the rivers are high and muddy, and the fish stay low and inactive. Do you know of any time that Osprey have been known to stay in Oregon in the winter and if so than what do they eat?
thanks
Bobbie
Good evening,
We live in a fairly new housing development and one of the residential lots has an Osprey nest that may interfere with a planned driveway. Can the tree be removed or is the nest protected? We are sincerely hoping the homeowners will leave the tree but also want to follow fish and game laws.
Thank you,
Stephanie
[email protected]. Happy New Year to all.
Question– I am building a new Osprey nesting platform. The resting or perch arm sticks out 3 ft from the platform. What should the top width be. I have read that a 2 x 4 is good which would mean the top would width would be 1 1/2 ” plus a little. I am making it out of sinker cypress which will not rot. Thanks for the reply.
I live in Great Neck, on Long Island. Yesterday (Dec.25th) my husband took photos of an Osprey in our backyard. From what I am reading should this bird have already migrated south?
I have a friend that has made me an Osprey Nesting Platform out of light stainless steal. I plan on attaching the perch arm out 3 feet made out of cypress 1-1/2 inch thick for the bird to roast on and also eat his or her fish. Will the S/S be OK, the mess will be covered with the nest.It will never rot. Thanks
What happens when an osprey returns to its nest after migrating south and finds that its occupied by an eagle?
You are always so kind to answer and they help to know the habits of the Osprey. Two birds made a large nest last Jan/Feb.on my 20 ft pole nest frame. 3 x 3 The female after a while never can back. The young male still comes day time and sits on the perch and eats. Also roosts at night, still no female. The nest Frame and post are leaning and may fall at some time. Question.
1. I have a friend that can make the nest frame out of light stainless steal and I will attach a wooden 3′ perch so the birds can hold on. I have the state specs. -Will the S/S frame be OK??
2. Within the next year if no female shows up–no eggs, can I take this nest and frame down and put up the new one will the male at some point rebuild the nest. I could tie the present nest to the new one so not to fall off while raisin, Would that help make them come back?? Thank you so much.
Hi, you have asked questions before. I have an Osprey nest on a pole 20 plus feet tall, over water. The male has been coming to the nest sitting on the arm and roosting there every night for the last 6 to 7 months. No Mate him only. Question is at what point if any will he get a mate and will they use the nest which is large, he made it. 10 months ago. Thank you.
I live on a bridged island in Maine. A pair nests on the bridge every year. The parents leave, with the fledglings left behind, subsequently they leave separately weeks later. Do they find a mate prior to migration?
We have a osprey who has been sitting in our tree for 3 days straight not flying away,
Is he ok? Missing his mate ? A little worried about him .
There have been 2 here for a while, but now we see only 1 .
A little concerned . Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks Randy Simon
Hello,
I live on the Thames River in Gales Ferry Connecticut and have been watching one small osprey in a swamp oak that arches over the river. He catches fish and dines on them here daily and probably
nests nearby. On Friday Oct. 9th he was visited by two larger Osprey who did not stay long. I keep thinking he should be heading south as it’s now October 13. There are eagles in the area which sometimes harry him and steal his fish but have not attacked him seriously yet. We have not yet had a hard frost but it can’t be more than a week or so away. Should I be worried, is there anything I can do?
Thank You,
Jeanne Bryant
I live in a condo located on the bank of the Potomac River in Alexandria VA. You’ve answered questions for me before, thank you.
I’ve begun writing a weekly Waterfront Watch newsletter with photos for our 170 condo neighbors. I’d really like to have a good graphic of the migratory routes that ospreys from this area follow. Greg Kearns says that at least some of the ospreys that nest along the Patuxent River (near here) are known to migrate to Brazil.
Might you know of a source of such a graphic that I could use, please?
Thank you for all you’re doing, and stay well.
Eldon
Do Ospreys ever have a second brood in a year?
Hello, I live in Ontario, Canada and we have one of the babies still living in the next. Everyone else has flown South. We are very worried about Hazel. Will she eventually start heading South, or does she need help?
Cheers,
Nicole
I have osprey on my lakefront property, and would like to make a nesting platform. But I also keep free-range chickens, and would not want to encourage osprey presence if they present a danger to my flock. I cannot find any reference which describes osprey killing chickens. What is your input?
Regards,
Dave
I am a latecomer to this nest-could you tell me alittle about the family here-Mr & Mrs & were there chicks? I know they will be gone soon-I’ve been watching Hellgate-Barnegut(NJ) our own here on LI-sadly our one chick passed away-thanks!
I have a nesting pair of Osprey on my pier. Theyve been returning for 3 years. This year my pier was overtaken by seagulls. They were loud & messy & left the pier unusable. I put out solar powered owls to deter them. The Osprey always sit high on poles so I put the owls down low. The Osprey didnt seem disturbed & all the seagulls left. I havent seen my Osprey in a couple days. It is time for them to migrate but did I probably scare them away too. And if so will they still come back next year?
Hi
Yesterday a full grown osprey was in our backyard on the ground we live in a man made lake
We called wild life rescue and they came out got close to it and it took off and flew well to other side of lake. Later that afternoon it was sitting on a 8 foot wall in front of our house primarily in shade of trees
It has not left in 24 hours from that spot
What should we do any suggestions who we should call
Hank you
I live in Seattle and I have been monitoring an Osprey nest on a light pole above the soccer field at University of Washington. Last year, first time parents successfully raised one healthy female.
This year, three chicks successfully fledged in early August. There is one very large female and one smaller female as well as one male. The smaller female and the young male were initially very active but I did not see them ever catch fish. The male parent ( Stewart) did not seem to be bringing enough food and the female parent ( Hope) eventually disappeared for several days presumably to fish on her own. Last year both adults would fly to Puget Sound for salmon, so I was not entirely surprised by this development.
But I am now concerned the young male and smaller female (Belle) are starving and I would like your advice as to whether I can help in any way. The much larger female takes all the food, all the time.
I have not seen the young male for 4 days. When he was last at the nest, he tried to mount the dominant female. Have you ever seen this happen?
Both the smaller young Osprey learned they could not receive fish at the nest without the dominant female snatching the fish away. The last time I saw the young male, he flew to Stewart who was eating a large salmon, but he was rebuffed and flew off. It was even worse for the smaller female, Belle, as she landed next to the male parent while he was eating his fish and she also was denied food. She flew to nearby trees and Stewart did carry some fish over and call. But he held the fish at the nest and while I did not see exactly what happened, the larger female took all the fish and Belle had nothing to eat. Her begging calls went ignored.
Last night, Belle must have caught her own fish, a nice 6” trout, but she returned to the nest to eat and the larger female charged her and took away the entire fish. Similarly, this morning, Hope brought fish to Belle at the nest but the dominant female flew from a nearby light pole and snatched it away.
I admit I brought a slice of raw halibut this morning and when Belle was perched in a nearby tree, i laid it on some foil on the ground about 15 feet below her and backed off. She looked down several times but she flew back to the nest and called. Is there anything I can do?
Thank you,
Ronda
who do the young osprew spend their first winter with–MOM of DAD?
Hi, I’m in Seattle, and this year an osprey pair built a nest on top of a big light fixture overlooking a nearby ball field in a large park. The ball field wasn’t in use this year because of the pandemic, but I’m wondering about next year when things are (hopefully) back to normal. I assume that the osprey will return to nest there again, but might the light pollution and commotion during a ball game bother them? I’m wondering if I should lobby my parks department to do something for them (what?). In any case, the neighborhood has very much enjoyed these birds. They’ve been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year.
Thanks very much,
-Carla
Hi, I live on Johns Island SC, we have frequent visits of Osprey and always excited to see them as we are on a water way and they frequently fish here. I have been concerned over the past week. They have been excessively screeching and hovering in the area. I have never seen this behavior before, it continues every day and most all day. It is not in the same direct local but in close proximity. It is late August so I dont believe it is nesting season. I am in no way an expert but if there is something I can do to relieve whatever the distress they are in, I would appreciate any help or guidance.
I monitor many osprey nests for a volunteer program through my state. I also volunteer for a bird rescue organization, I am currently watching a 2 weeks fledged juvenile osprey Who has apparent damage to the left primary feathers, It can fly but spends all day everyday on a channel marker nest. Some have reported seeing fishing line and hook in the left wing but I do not see that. There is no way to capture the Osprey but its future doesnt seem good. I have not seen it fed but since its been laying in the nest for over a week I assume an adult is feeding it occasionally. How long could it survive without food? Are you aware if any safe way to capture a juvenile that can fly? Thanks much!
We live on the outerbanks of NC. Normally the female ospreys leave mid august with the males a week or two later. Their babies leave mid September. Both adults and babies were gone by 8/10. This is most unusual. Is there an explanation why they left early? We had a tropical storm 8/4, water spout and earthquake 8/9.
Im watching an Osprey nest in Severna Park, Md. I have a couple of questions. #1 is it possible that an adult pair would be tending 2 nests at the same time? I have not seen the 2 adults at this nest at the same time these last 2 wks.or so #2 Is it possible there is only 1 parent alive?
I just saw two big chicks really fighting over a fish, nearly two mins they tried to get it, real tug of war, eventually one got it and the other wasnt happy. Do they ever hurt each other in a fish fight? Those beaks are sharp!
Why are the metal man-made osprey nest platforms shaped like upside down bowls?
It looks like the nest would have a tendency to fall off easily.
We have a platform near out home wth two babies. One has been flying longer than the other. The other day I saw four birds on another pole, so looked over to the nest and it was empty. (YEAH) But they’re still there making their whistling call all day long.
Is it normal for the family to stay together for over a week after the young ones can fly. I”m worried there may be something wrong with the one bird?? But this is all new to us, so we don’t know what to expect.
Which chick leaves the nest first, male or female?
A pair of osprey made a nest atop a live telephone pole one year where I worked. I watched as the 3 babies grew and testing their wings. One day the electricity went out at my work and come to find one of the babies touched the wires and started a fire in the nest. That one died instantly and the other 2 and mom were on the ground with burnt feathers. We called a rehab place and they came and got them but unfortunately they all died of shock. The rehab place came and put up a new pole and platform about 50 yards from the original nest and another pair have returned year after year and had babies on the new platform. We have been watching the babies fly around the nest this last week, 8/10/2020 and expect them to be gone in another week or so. I greatly encourage anyone who has osprey nests on live electric poles to have someone put up poles and move them away from the danger if possible. It was truly sad to watch the remaining parent flying above the burnt out nest calling to it’s mate.
Hi there, We live near down town CDA by the water. Last year had a pair of Osprey raise one baby sucessfully, it was a treat to watch. This year three eggs hatched and all was going fine. However, a few days ago it was was very hot here, near 100 and a day or so after that we noticed that two of the fledglings were laying in the nest, not moving and had died. The one seems okay and a parent does stop by and brought a fish this morning. Youngster took off and flew for the first time this afternoon so that was very exciting but so strange that two siblings just passed away. Do you think it could be from the heat? The nest is on the very top of a pine tree and has no shelter from the sun. The mom was standing over the baby birds when they were smaller to give them shade but lately was not doing that as they were getting big. It’s been three days and the dead birds are still in the nest. I would think she would get tossed out. Thanks for any info.
Hello, great facts about ospreys here. I am wondering what is meant when ospreys bow their heads? They do it all the time, no matter what nest I watch live. Just curious.
Thanks,
Raechelle
We have 2 osprey platforms on our tidal waterfront, and both had 3 eggs hatch this year. The first family seems to have fledged all 3.
For the second family, we saw a chick (we believe the smallest of the 3) on the tidal mudflat one day. We were able to pick it up and toss it back on top of the platform (about 12 feet high). Its 2 siblings began flying that same day. The smaller one was fine for almost a week (and was being fed), and then we spotted in on the ground again. Because the tide was rising, we picked it up w a canoe, and held it overnight until an Animal Rescue Officer could come to get it and take it to a Raptor Rehab Facility. While very tired the day of rescue, it was quite lively the second day. She was quite optimistic about its prospects.
My question is this — why did it end up on the ground twice? Is it most likely sibling competition, meaning that one or both pushed it off? Might there be another explanation?
Thank you for operating this service!
I live in CdA. Have a general arrival date for Osprey in late March. When to they generally depart? thank you.
Hello Janie. My name is Terry DeVore and I live in Twin Lakes Idaho. We have a Osprey nest that has been in our tree for over 8 years. As of two years ago that tree has started to die, and unfortunately will be removed. Are there any companies that you know of that will relocate the nest to a near by tree. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
We have a young osprey that we just retrieved from the water. we think he was attacked by a bald eagle as there was one also int water. we have left the young osprey on the pier. the mom knows where he is. we cannot tell if he is hurt or simply in shock. please advise what we should do next. will the mother come and help him.
Thank you
I just witnessed what I am assuming may have been the first flight of a fledgling osprey about 7 am. I heard this calling go on for several minutes and finally located the osprey high flying and calling the whole time before it appeared to come down and circle to what I assumed was a nest nearby. Is this behavior of the calling and flying at the same time indicative of first flight? It was thrilling to watch. After it returned to the nest or maybe is just resting somewhere, two hawks then appeared – I was thinking they were relieved the coast was clear and they were grateful not be a fish! Ha!
I have been watching a nest here near Boise, one chick has fledged and today I observed the mother attacking the two still in the nest. She beat them with her wings and was biting them on the back. This behavior continued for a couple of hours. She went to the river and caught a fish when she brought it back to the nest she would not let those two eat. She ate and would give bites to the chick who fledged this morning. Is this rough behavior toward the chicks still in the nest normal? I have been watching osprey nests for about 8 years now and never seen this before. One of the chicks was cowering with his head down as she bit him on the back. It was sad to watch and I was concerned she might cause an injury.
Hello,
We have a pair who are regulars in my yard over the Deschutes River in Bend Oregon. The two surviving chicks (one died in the nest around July 6) have been flapping up a storm. Only one in the nest today. Not seen since last night. How long can they stay away from nest the first time? Its been seven hours so far and Im concerned. Hope this is normal.
Thanks, I love this website.
i am at NAS Patuxent River MD and have been watching a particular nest. This pair …began this nest about 4 years ago. The Ospreys anywhere and everywhere are a joy… <3 I feel heartbroken at the moment, as the nest did have 2 chicks a few weeks ago…I could see their sweet lil heads bobbing along. Then I only have been seeing one. 🙁 Now the past few days…I see none. The parents, one up on a High pole closer to the nest and the other a little further away….on the telephone pole. Neither are peeping any longer. My heart sinks to think the chicks are dead… Also, I have seen another Osprey coming by…to stand vigil ? This morning I saw the "visitor" with a fish…flew over the nest and waved off…. this visiting bird seems to be consoling the one on the telephone pole…and brought ? maybe the Mom some food? I was just curious of the mourning behavior of an osprey couple…and what will be the future of the nest? Will it be abandoned for eternity? Too late in the season for them to rear another brood of chicks?
As of last week, a pair of ospreys seemed to be well along in brooding with Mom in nest most of the time & Dad our fishing & bringing home dinner regularly. I was away a few days & now return to see a big hole in the nest & Mom still there, but eggs or chicks cannot be. What could have happened? There are no human issues. Could an eagle have attacked & ripped up the nest? Whatever happened is sad!
Any experience with this kind of issue?
Thanks!
I have been watching the Mooresville osprey nest via webcam and suddenly a couple of days ago another large chick appeared. There has definitely only been 1 chick in the nest all the time I have been watching. …where could this new one have appeared from and could it be from another local nest?
We have a pair of osprey who nest near our house every year. Usually by this time of year we can see baby activity in the nest, starting to move around etc. While both parents are still guarding the nest, there doesn’t seem to be any activity this year. Do a mature pair sometimes fail have a successful clutch?
We have been watching three healthy osprey chicks on a nesting platform in Nova Scotia. The oldest chick is approaching seven weeks and the other two are just days younger. We noticed the mother osprey bringing two types of branches to the nest. One type look like dried softwood branches without the needles. They are small and brush-like. She seems to be making sure that the chicks pick up these branches and they do, with their beaks. Does she bring these branches to help the chicks with digestion or to help clean their beaks? The other branches are about 3/4 in in diameter and are at least a foot long, maybe longer. Are these brought for nest maintenance?
We rescued an adult female — mother to two fledglings — after it was caught in fishing line and badly wounded. The bird rehab center cared for her but ultimately had to put her down. The male continues to return to the nest with food for the two fledglings but they are not flying yet. Will they migrate without the female? And will the male find a new mate?
What is a natural predator of osprey?
Just wondering do the baby osprey return to the nest for a while after they learn how to fly???
We are privileged to have witnessed an osprey pair raise their young twice in a large nest in an oak tree we can see from our home. Each time the young fly away the female remains behind for awhile. The squawking is almost hurtful to listen to….does the female do this in mourning of their departure or is she calling for their return?!?
Just wondering if anyone knows why the two Osprey chicks died at the NL hydro station in St. John’s and also what happened to the third egg that was there before the other two hatched?
I’m curious which osprey migrate first, the male, female or chicks? Or do they all leave around the same time?
When an osprey chick dies what will the osprey do with them?We are watching the osprey web cam the Nl Power have on looks like both chicks are dead they are not moving
There is an Osprey nest platform about 125 feet behind my location on a bay in Delaware. The nest box has 2 adults and 4 young ospreys. The 4 young are in the stage of exercising their wings while still in the nest. The young have a wide wing span for their body size. I am concerned with a crowded nest of 6 ospreys, one young osprey could accidentally be knocked out of the nest onto the ground. What response would I likely see from the adults if one of their young falls to the ground?
I live in Mount Dora Florida. I have a nest on top of a power pole in my yard. I have watched at least one pair there for the last 20 years. This year for the first time ever there were three fledgling and it has been a real delight to watch them grow.Since we live on a lake it has been exciting to watch them learn how to fish especially since theyre young and they will fish from the bottom branches so easy to watch rather than the adults. I have been trying to find out how often a pair have three since usually there are only two and often only one. Also sadly this week I found one laying on the grass at the bottom of the pole. Although I saw one that had obviously been shocked years ago this one had no apparent injury except for what looked like an open area of flesh on the back. The parents have been gone for at least two weeks as the young are hanging around. Any idea what may have happened,?
Hello, I really have learned a lot from your page. We have a young Osprey couple that have two chicks that are so very close to flying. They will hover a foot or so Directly over the nest but wont quite pull the trigger. We had a bad storm last night and have only seen one chick through late afternoon today. Could the missing chick have taken its maiden flight early this morning and just not returned yet or is it more likely the storm blew it from the nest? We have seen both adults today but just the one chick. Thanks!
I have 2 adults I assume 1 male 1 female. They are nesting on the top of a cell tower this is there 2nd year Its July 6th 2020 male & female are constantly feeding which looks to be 2 babies its been extremely hot I can clearly see the baby tongue out panting from the heat as mom and dad are in and out of nest spreading wings on pole I assume to cool themselves every 1/2 hour or so. I can only see its head and no body every once and awhile wings. Wondering how much heat they can tolerate in direct sun mom & dad are both attentive to its cries appears healthy Im worried its going to fall out of the nest early because these idiots are constantly working on this cell tower. I did warn the workers that they are a protected species and I have watched these babies for at least a month so another question is I live in Barrington IL were could I call if I find one of these birds in my yard. The cell tower is located in a wildlife refuge as well.
What happens to the young if one of the parents die
Hello! We installed an osprey platform several years ago and finally this year have an active nest with two fledglings!! Very near to the platform we also have a boat on a lift and recently there have been a pair building another nest on the top of the boat. We cant tell if these are the fledglings practicing nest building or a new pair. Why would they be building a nest now and so close to the other? Any thoughts??
Thank you!!
We ave an Osprey nest outside of our home. There is one juvenile in the nest. Over the past few weeks I can hear it screeching and moving around through the tops of several trees. It never goes very far. The calling goes on for hours. Im assuming its calling for Mom and Dad? How long do the parents continue to feed it? It sounds distressed when it just keeps calling. I guess Im wondering is this normal behavior? Do the parents leave and not come back? Or do they still come and feed it occasionally? I was worried it was not getting food.
The female in the pair we are watching did not return yesterday nor this morning. We fear the worst. The male has stayed on the nest, shading the two small 2 chicks from the sun and brooding them overnight. He is calling constantly for the mate. Will the male Osprey fish for and feed the chicks that are too young to feed themselves at this point?
Our returning Osprey pair had 3 eggs, buried and non viable under 2 feet of snow–Mom laid 2 more eggs on top of 3 eggs buried in snow, total of 5 eggs. Eggs #4 and #5 hatched and looked great. #4 chick died on June 5 and #5 chick died July 2. Mom and Dad are still at nest watching dead chick, which is big. My ? is would another raptor try to consume the dead chick and the Mom or Dad osprey get into a fight with a larger raptor? Another ?–our osprey pair have been together since 2012, maybe they are older and genetically the 4th and 5th egg were not the same quality as first 3 eggs? Our pair fledged 3 chicks in 2018, 2 chicks in 2019 and this will be first year of failure. Chick #4 died at age 2 weeks and chick #5 died at 1 month + 2 days, neither were young chicks.
My osprey and I are in MathewsVA, Chesapeake Bay. They have been building on a boat lift for several years. This year owner of pier knocks down nest. What will the birds do?
Hi,
Thank you for your amazing site. I’m in Atlantic City, NJ on the bay. This is the first year (in 44 years) I saw Osprey nesting on the highest platform of an condo (about 15 stories)
I see plenty of them on platforms along the inner water coast line yearly.
There are three young that struggle slightly with their flight, getting stronger daily. They started flying just This week. This morning I only saw two with the parents.
How long before the young permanently leave their parents?
After fledging, I usually see only 1 adult around the nest.
I assume the 1 adult is the male who is “managing” his territory, including his nest site, correct?
Today is June 26,2020. We have watched a returning pair of osprey nesting on a man made platform that is in direct view from our home for the last 5 years through our telescope. We live in Frisco, CO facing the wetlands across from the Marina. 2019 the eggs were not viable and the osprey finally gave up nesting in July. It was a brutal winter for 2019. 2018 only one survived successfully. 2017 was unsuccessful. 2016, one survived. 2015, 2 successful. This year, it appears there are no viable eggs, yet the osprey parents continue to nest. How long does it typically take before the parents give nesting. It is very sad to watch them try to hatch the eggs.
An osprey juvenile fell out of the nest with the mother or dad look for it and feed it should I have someone come get it You
A juvenile osprey on our lake in Tampa, Florida, bas been sitting on the ground at the edge of the lake all afternoon. It has moved from one location to another, but does not move away when people or pets pass close by. I don’t know ospreys well enough to estimate the age but its feathers still look a bit scruffy. Is it .ore likely it is injured, or just recently pushed out of the nest?
How far from a nest will Ospreys fly to catch fish and bring them back to the nerst?
This is the First year that we have had a platform and got a pair to nest. They tended to it for months, building it, sitting on it thru horrible weather, protecting from others, etc Then finally a bobbing up and down movement by adult while on the nest made us think that the eggs had hatched, and they were feeding the chicks. Then a few days later… the adults left and have been very inattentive to the nest, periodically returning but no nest activity. Obviously, the eggs did not hatch or the young died.
What would cause this? There was more “people’ and boat activity for one day once we thought the eggs were hatched, but would this cause the adults to abandon the nest and chicks? What could be other causes?
Ive been watching an osprey cam on Marthas Vineyard in MA. Mom successfully hatched one baby, but then unfortunately stopped returning to the the nest. Im told she died flying into an electric wire. Dad seems to be bringing the baby fish at least once a day, but after a few days a new second adult osprey has shown up, not sure if it is male or female. The new osprey will sit in the nest all day and swipe and peck at the baby if it tries to move around the nest. If the Dad osprey comes back, theyll flap and peck at each other every few minutes until one of them leaves.
I guess Im just worried the baby wont have the opportunity to learn how to fly if this other osprey is attacking it all day for moving. Wondering if you had any idea what might be going on? I estimate the baby is around 4 weeks old. It still has speckly feathers and hasnt tried to fly at all yet. Thank you!
Watching a cam on Marthas Vineyard osprey mother died, leaving a chick. The father had been feeding it. Another female has come to the nest. She appears to be cleaning the nest but not feeding the chick. The father has returned but does not appear to be feeding it anymore. The new female appears to be pecking at the chick. Will they eventually bond? Is she remodeling for herself and trying to push the chick out. It cannot yet fly.
We live on the4 sound in Kill Devil Hills, NC. We have an osprey nest with two chicks. This morning we discovered one of the parents dead in our yard. We believe a fox caught it while it was bathing in shallow water nearby. If the dead osprey is the mother, will the father continue to feed the chicks ? If not, is there a chick relocation group ?
Thanks
all three of the baby ospreys are big and strong at 4 weeks old! they are not pecking each other anymore and are being very sweet and well behaved to each other!
There was a pair os Osprey nesting on a platform on the edge of estuary (south coast of Ma)
Last Sunday there was a major change in behavior. The female was more active.up and down off the eggs . The male was on the best a lot bit just bringing fish in and switching places with the female. This lasted a few days and for the last 4 or 5 days it has only been the female. We have not seen the make at all. The female is still sitting but leaves for 5-15 min at a time a few times a day . If the eggs are bit viable will she continue to nest on them? What might have happened?
Thanks
Hi. I’m in Oregon and am watching a nesting pair of osprey on top of the football field floodlights. The other day I saw something I’d never seen before. One of the pair flew to a nearby poplar tree. I thought it was planning on landing but it hesitated, then flew to the next big poplar. It swept in, grabbed onto a large branch and snapped it off of the tree! Such strength and agility! It took it to the nest and both birds worked at fitting it into the nest.
Live in Maryland. It’s Mid June and Ospreys appear to have abandon their nest with no off spring. Is this normal?
why would an Osprey suddenly move away one egg and not cover it anymore
I live in Chesapeake Beach, Md and the ospreys returned to their nest, but now they have abandoned their nest and building a new one not far away. Help as to why.
Why do ospreys hold on to a catch of fish for a long time before going to nest to feed young? I have a nest near me and the osprey will sit on the above wires for quite awhile holding the fish, while taunting nearby birds who try to get it. Its very cool to see
This is year three that our city has an osprey nest on the communication tower. This year, they returned and then then a week later there were four osprey on/near the nest. There appeared to be a flight fight and then just two have been at the nest. Today, there were three osprey, two returned with fish to eat, perched on the communication structure near the nest and then a third osprey landed on the other side. There was no flight/fight/reaction by any of the birds. Could one of the osprey be one of last year’s chick?
I have an Osprey on my lake, and he (she) frequently skims the surface of the water. Is it drinking? It seems to be “water skiing”, not fishing. Is it just having fun?
why are the baby ospreys on my cam pecking each other (and especially the runt,) to the ground? why is it the only biggest one? how come the mom does not stop them? and lastly, how come the mom does not cover up the runt always, and why does she only feed the 2 big ones in the front?
thank you
Thanks for your earlier reply.
An unattached female has now appeared and the 4 young males have stopped mobbing each other. I suspect that they were competing for her interest (she was out of my sight) and she has made her choice or rejected all of them! She is now happily leading a single life at the top of the dead pine tree and fishing successfully. Perhaps next year, she will be back with a mate looking for a nesting site?
My wife and I been watching Glen Lakes Golf Course video for weeks. Young are flying now. Wondering why they now are working hard to clear this platform nest of the sticks. Doesnt appear to serve any useful purpose. Thank you, Jim
I have a pair of Ospreys in a nest at our school. I think something has happened to the male. Haven’t seen him since yesterday. What happens to the female and the eggs if he doesn’t come back?
We have been watching Ospreys for 25 years from our CT shoreline house. Strange behavior now not seen before. 2 or 3 males seem to be mobbing another male. They will not let him eat his fish on the customary dead pine. This has been going on for 3 days. When he perches, one of the mob will zoom down and force him off the branch. Occasionally there is some contact. Then they chase him for hours. We seem to have more birds than nesting sites in this area. Any thoughts?
Hi Donna-
I live on river off the Chesapeake Bay in MD. My neighbor has an osprey platform on their dock. I saw osprey arrive in early March, but didnt see any sign after that. Now, this week they are back – soaring and calling with lots of activity. Ive seen them fishing – chasing away heron – its all so fascinating. What does this behavior suggest?
Thanks!
Every year we look forward to watching the ospreys in our backyard this year has been very sad one of the adult ospreys got stuck in the wire and its just hanging there Ive called to get someone to come get him out but I feel so sad for the adults and a baby thats iLeft to see the other one hanging in the wire will that adult take care of the baby
I have been watching the Boulder Fairground Osprey Cam and have several osprey questions! Both parents are standing on the nest, over a chick(s) with their wings pulled away from their bodies. Are they shading the nest from the sun? Cooling themselves off?
After a chick hatched a few days ago, it appeared the mother ate something from shell, then she moved it to the edge of the nest.
Ive never seen the chick get fed. Do the parents regurgitate the food for chicks? Are baby osprey called chicks?
Watching the nest is an enthralling experience. I have YouTube on my smart tv and watchIng it on a large screen really enhances the experience.
I am looking for information about the natural distances between osprey nests around Flathead Lake, Montana. We have a neighbor who has a tall snag about 150 feet back from the water that has a well-established osprey nest in it. Year after year, has been a home for breeding osprey. Recently, we placed a nesting platform in the top of our pine tree which sits out on a bluff about 40 feet above the water. This pine tree has had nests in it before (not sure if they were for eagles or osprey), but the last nest was blown out by a storm a couple of years ago and the top of the tree was split. An arborist came and recommended cutting the split top off and placing a nesting platform on it.
My neighbor is concerned that the ospreys on her property will fight with any ospreys that may come to create a nest on our platform. (Im guessing our platform and the nest on her property are about 800 feet apart as the crow flies.) She is urging us to learn more about the osprey territories before deciding to keep the platform permanently. She does not want the nesting ospreys in her snag to be killed or shooed away. Her snag faces a bay and our platform is around the corner facing the open water.
Can you help us understand if it is inviting problems by having our nesting platform in a lot next to another with a nest?
Thank you for any information you can provide.
Osprey left nest with eggs? Any reason? She has not returned in 4-days.
We live on the bay in South Jersey. There are many osprey in the area. This morning when I came outside there was a dead baby osprey on our step (it was about 6, too young to be flying). It was in perfect shape, except its head was gone. What Or who could have caused This?
While temporarily living in Dover Bay, Ive watched a pair of osprey build a nest and mate, then remain at the site for several weeks. Now they have seemingly abandoned the nest though its on an inlet to the lake. Can you tell me why?
Thanks very much, Alexis
A local osprey nesting tree was vandalised and toppled. Will they rebuild nearby ? Is it too late to erect a nesting platform?
I have an osprey who lands on a dead branch high up on neighbors doug fir. Alone. Same time each night, within a minute. How does the bird keep such a precise schedule?
HI
I am hopeful you can provide some information. For how long do adults hunt for and feed juveniles? The juvenile? (orange eyes) being fed is almost larger than the adult and calls constantly. Even when being fed. We enjoy viewing their interaction cautiously, slowly and lowly I have been able to approach both so as to discern eye color. The Osprey eat and rest 9 feet off the ground on top of a boat lift. The juvenile can fly and at times fly up to the top of a Palm yet never leaves a very small area
I can send video and pics. If you would like them please send an email address.
Thank you Im advance for your response.
David Guerrieri
Naples FL
There is an osprey (youth?) that has been perched on the same tree limb ALL day; have noticed it spreading it’s wings and vocalizing. Is this common? I plan on calling for help if nothing has changed by morning.
Hi there,
I live in a fairly densely populated neighborhood in Seattle,WA. with a good amount of large trees and two lakes nearby. Last spring a pair of Ospreys made a nest in a tree in a neighbors backyard, and successfully raised a chick.They returned in early April and began rebuilding their nest, yet a couple of weeks back they took off and were gone for almost a week. We were all concerned about them, but they came back and started adding more to the nest. They took off again after only being back for 1-2 days however, and it has now been over a week that theyve been gone. They did not do any of this last year, and Im hoping you can share any insight on why this may have happened and if they will come back/are okay?
Thank you so much,
Sasha
I have been watching this osprey sitting on the ground now for about almost two hours,it looks young and appears it cant fly.I hear adult ones chirping around but not checking on this
Never seen a young one before close up ,as I said it looks young.Will the adults take care of it? I am worried because it is sitting in the wide open
I have an osprey platform on a pole out in our creek off the Rappahannock River and every year they return. Recently during a bad storm with high winds the pole blew over with the nest. The mother has remained at the site sitting on what is left of the platform. Sometimes the mate will come and sit beside her for awhile. We are heartbroken for them and it is painful to watch. What will they do now and will they come back if I can find someone to put up another pole and put the platform back on. I love watching them, they have become so special to me. I look forward to seeing them each spring and watching their babies grow.
We have a pair of osprey that are trying to make a nest 3 time the nest had been destroyed by the electric company. What happens to them now? Will they find another place to nest?
Do the prior years fledglings come back to their nest in the spring along with the parents? I have witnessed on the North Fork of Long Island, NY a Female on a nest and the Male was flying nearby. What looks like a younger osprey was trying to land on the nest and the female (I’m assuming it was a female) would not allow it to land.
After watching our osprey take care of her eggs since April 25, today we discovered that both of her eggs mysteriously disappeared….no sign of nest disturbance or evidence of the eggs or egg shells (2 eggs) The location of the nest is only about 4 feet from the ground. Is there any possibility Mom will lay more eggs later this year or is this a once a year occurrence? Thanks!
Love watching the osprey web cam, brilliant. Can you explain how this bird survives for so long without feeding herself. Theres probably an obvious answer, but I havent been able to find it.
Regards Michael.
Hi! We have watched a beautiful Osprey pair successfully hatch eggs since 2017, building a nest on the same stand year after year. This year they started to build the nest and then seemed to have abandoned it.. then a few days ago over a dozen Osprey filled the sky (perhaps all doing the sky dance?). Now the female has returned to the stand and is being very vocal but I cant tell if she is building the nest again. She wont leave it! Any idea what is happening? We were wondering if the unusual weather patterns this year have thrown everything off.
How long does it usually take for an Osprey chick to fledge? Once they have fledged will they tend to stay around the nest?
I love seeing the Ospreys when they co me to my tall pine tree to eat their fish, the problem is they drop fish bones and guts down the yard and my little dog is eating them . I’m afraid one of the bones might perforate his intestine is there anything I can do to stop the osprey from coming to my tree?
Good morning from sunny Solomons Maryland. – I have a question about a pair of Osprey’s that had built a nest on a boat in front of our house. We did provide them some help at first as their original nest was taken down last winter by a neighbor. After several attempts over 2 weeks they had their nest going and the day before yesterday we had terrible winds that blew the nest apart. We have not seen the Ospreys’s since then and are wondering if we go out and get the nest started again will they return. I believe it is time for them to start laying their eggs. We are hopefully.
Any thoughts?
Hi, there was a nest on the buoy/can that the Coast Guard removed this winter. The Osprey returned about 3 weeks ago and so far have hardly made any progress at all in rebuilding the nest, Some very windy days have not helped but we feel like they should be farther along. Is it possible one is not well or perhaps they are an older pair? Is it normal for it to take this long to rebuild a nest?
My friend also had the nest on the buoy she can see removed as well but the pair that returns there has already rebuilt their nest. Thank you!
Hello, I have an Osprey nest being build on my chimney. They just started last week. Is there a possibility of damage to my chimney/roof? How long does it take the Osprey to build their nest?
Do crows drive ospreys away. We used to have so many on our beach early in the morning hunting but now they are gone and we have lots of crows up at the beach. Would they drive the ospreys away ?
Thanks
Liza Pulitzer
We have a pair of ospreys nesting on a platform that was put up by the previous owner. The platform is about 50 yards from the house with the pole sunk into a pond. It has been thrilling to watch them as I have never been this close to nesting Ospreys although they are bird I have always loved watching. But I have some questions. How long after the finish the nest does the female lay eggs? I think she may be sitting on eggs but cant tell. She stays in the nest most of the time and is sitting low a lot but she moves around and when her mate comes she will often sit up with him. But she does not seem to leave the nest much. Also given that the nest is so close to our yard will we disturb them by mowing and doing yard work? We live in rural Montana right on the Ninepipes Wildlife Sanctuary.
I live on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay and have an osprey platform behind my house. We’ve had osprey nest in there every summer we’ve been here (6 years). This year a pair returned on the early side, built up the nest, and seemed to have laid eggs (the female was hunkered down deep for 10 or so days), and then over the last day or so, she seems to have disappeared. I’ve seen 1 osprey at the nest a few times today. What could have happened? What will happen to the eggs?
When the eggs are left unattended for hours on end, will this affect viability ? Referring to this occuring the past 2 afternoons on Chesapeake Conservancy cam. Thank you
Why would an Osprey couple abandon their nest ?
Am I seeing this correctly? Do ospreys stand on each other? Are they mating? How many times do they mate per egg? We see one egg appeared 2 days ago. Will there be more?
I was surprised to see the male sitting on the eggs and then the female came back and took his place is it normal for the male to also sit on the eggs? Uh
I can hear recently hatched eggs on the top of our local next. Yesterday, the male was coming and going with what looked like seaweed or mudflat material in its claws. Is this normal?
Are the Osprey effected by the temperature and wind. I know the migrate south for the winter but early on when they return and nest the temperature can fall below freezing.
Hello,
I just started watching the Osprey nest cam in Charlo, MT on explore.org. The big topic of discussion on the site is the returning Osprey pair, Charlie and Charlotte.Charlie returned to the nest area a few days ago, and Charlotte returned today. It appears this mated pair does not migrate together? Is this the norm for a mated Osprey pair – or does it seem unusual?
Much to the dismay of many long-term Charlie and Charlotte fans, a goose is in their nest, and she has laid eggs. Will be interesting to see if the nest owners will try to take back the nest, or nest elsewhere…
Thank you for your words of wisdom!
Our ospreys have returned to their old damaged nest on eastern long island. They have recently rebuilt the nest to make it more sound. We are now seeing that their are more than one couple who want to make this nest their home. Will the more persistent Osprey win or will the nest go back to the original nest builders ?
[email protected] Good morning. 2 years ago we instlled a platform on a high post. Over thatt time 2 Ospreys have eaten on the platform rail and brought a few sticks. Early March 2020 the Male workied days on end building up a nest to the point moss, sea weed soft stuff was brought in. Now in the last 10 days no sight of the 2 birds, GONE. They may have been young birds. What happen?? Jimmy
Curiosity question – can a male osprey maintain 2 separate nests (2 mates) at the same time, when both nests have chicks? Is this uncommon?
We live in VA on a point of land that looks onto Fleets Bay and beyond to the Chesapeake Bay. We just got a boat and installed a boat lift on our dock. We are thinking of building an osprey perch and nest platform maybe 30 to 50 yards away from our dock. Osprey are common around here – one was sitting around for awhile in our yard today – and we’d love to welcome a couple here. But my neighbor tells me this is a dumb idea because the offspring will likely return in future years and, looking for their own place to build a nest, may well choose the top of our center console boat. And that is not what we want. Any advice?
We’ve had 3 ospreys perched seemingly peacefully on the same nesting platform here for several hours both yesterday and today. Since it is mating and nesting season, this seems very irregular. Might you have any explanation?
Thank you.
does the female osprey move the eggs around in the nest? The osprey I am observing appears to be rearranging the eggs every now and then.
If a female osprey returns to the nest for mating season but the male fails to arrive will the female remain and attempt to attract another male?
What happens if the Osprey’s mate doesn’t return to the nest. The Osprey in the nest is just chirping away and for two or more days no sign of the mate.
How close can you have one nest next to another. What is the distance.
Is there a reason for concern for an Osprey that has been in a field for 24hrs? He had been in a pretty large mud hole at a cattle gate but since moved down the fence line just standing so pretty. Still there after night too. There is a creek with no fish within a hundred feet, a fishing pond within an acre, and a large fishing reservoir over the tree line about 2 mile away. It’s in a fence with a breeding bull so we cannot get to him to check on him at the moment. Is the field sitting normal behavior?
I’ve had a pair of Osprey on our property since 2013. In 2017 we installed a live cam. There have been several “firsts” of Osprey behavior since we have been observing close up. Today there was another first…..Ricky brought Lucy some wisteria to the nest. Blooming purple, beautiful wisteria and Lucy ate it! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I’ve been looking for information regarding plant eating by Ospreys and cannot find any. Do you have information on this? If you want to go see for yourself our page is http://www.lakemurrayosprey.com . Glad to have found your page!
I live in South Florida and we have a pair of osprey nesting in an old pine tree in our backyard. This is their second season in the tree. Two babies have hatched and are two weeks old. The male seems to have abandoned the nest. We see him only about once a day at the nest. The mother is constantly calling for her mate but he doesn’t respond. The female has been leaving the nest in search of food. Crows and other smaller birds are harassing the mother and we’re concerned that the babies could be eaten or killed by the harassing birds. Yesterday four other osprey were flying around her nest. Are they trying to help her? Would they harm her or her babies? We also have an eagle nest about half mile from the osprey nest. We saw the eagle near the osprey nest yesterday when all the other osprey were there. Is there something we could do to help her?
We have a returning pair of Osprey in a pole across a small saltwater creek and love watching them fish and raise their young.
Yesterday evening we saw the female on our lawn and slowly walked towards it to see why it wasnt moving. She was clearly in trouble so we called a local sanctuary and the guy took her away for attention saying it looked like a severe neck injury.
This morning we were devastated by the news that she didnt make it.
We are not sure what happened but the creek gets quite shallow and we wondered if she had do e in and hit the oyster beds somehow.
The male is still in the best and appears incredibly quiet.
Our question would be, is he likely to survive and find a new mate, and if so does this typically take time or can it happen quite quickly?
My wife and I have an osprey nest on a platform in our creek right next to our back yard. We have a really enjoyed the two birds who return every year to their nest and raise a brood there.
This year, because we of seed droppings from last summer, the middle of the nest is full of grass! About 14 high!
Will the ospreys use this nest?
I have seen two birds here checking it out, but I am worried.
Best,
Bob
We have an osprey nest stand in front of our house in the marsh. Our Osprey have not returned yet and usually they get here on the first day of spring. How long before we know that the nest will be empty or not?How long before we know that the nest will be empty or not? Thanks! PS Last year they had no babies so we were thinking perhaps that is why they have not returned to the nest?
We have a second home in Beaufort, SC, and one of its great joys is watching our ospreys. We built a pole off of our dock, and we have had a family for years. We also have a bald eagles’ nest across the saltwater creek from our pole, and in two seasons one of the eagles has attacked the nest and ruined the hatch. Our nesting platform does not have the upreaching diagonal stakes at the corners of the platform, and I was wondering if those might help keep the eagles away. Also, our ospreys do not build a substantial nest, only a few sticks and branches and a little Spanish moss. Do you think the diagonal stakes would encourage a more substantial nest? This year the female has returned and has been here for a week or 10 days, but no sign of the male. Here’s hoping. Thanks for your thoughts and comments.
Which osprey returns first? And after the initial landing doesnt it leave for a few days and then the two return?
My sister lives in Eagle ID and there is a large Osprey nest near her house. She noticed that year after year small birds of different species will hang around below the nest when the Osprey return and she is curious as to why this happens.
Do Osprey have to rebuild a new nest each year? I see nest platforms with huge nests during the summer. Do the nests remain on the platforms? Are they removed (for some reason) by DNR? Do nests get blown off the platforms, or destroyed by other weather factors? I see Bald Eagles reuse nests each year, so I’m just wondering if Osprey do the same, or have to start from scratch?
Thank you kindly,
Kim Curry
Cumberland, MD
Hi
I live in Washington state and been watching the Osprey here for 2 seasons. Yesterday I noticed a Canada Goose in the nest. The owners have not returned yet. When the Osprey return will they take the nest over and is the goose just checking it out?
We’re camping at Ft. Pickens at Pensacola Beach. Last year (in early March) there were lots of osprey attending to nests but this year we haven’t seen any. Any idea what’s up? When do they usually return?
I am watching an osprey cam in the Ft Myers Fl area. At first she had 2 white eggs, now she has 2 white and 2 speckled brown eggs. Is this normal?
Hi, we have been looking and photographing Ospreys for almost 20 years now mostly on a man made nest. We see them hatch twice a year. My question is: Is that typical? Or perhaps these are two different pairs. I would appreciate your answer very much. Thank you,
Rafael.
Why does the male land on top of the female first then fly off after a few seconds?
After seeing Ospreys try to make a nest on our old boat on a lift we built a platform and put it on top of the top of the boat. It is heavy but not 100 percent secured. In less than a day they are building in it. Can we go out our long dock and anchor it better today if we only touch the raised sides and not the contents? We didnt realize how fast they would claim it. I dont want them to abandon it but I worry about long term stability. We are in Stuart, FL on the intracoastal waterway with a good distance from the main channel. Its been less than 24 hours since we put it on the high top of the boat.
We are in SE Fl and an Osprey who has a mate constantly sings out all day long, even if mate is there. We have many Osprey in Vt where we live and have never seen this constant behavior. Could it have OCD?
Can osprey live somewhere without water? Do they commonly live in open areas edged by trees? Me and my friend are trying to figure out what bird is living in this schoolyard by our houses and we thought maybe it could be an osprey.
Im in Seattle, near Harbor Island, where were used to seeing Ospreys in spring and in summer. Today is nearly Christmas, though, and Im watching one that has landed in a tall evergreen in my neighborhood. I cant tell if its a female or a male (possibly female because it looks big), but Im hoping its OK. Its been sitting there for nearly 2 hours now, in the rain. Is this unusual?
Hi: A nest platform was recently erected in my neighborhood (in SW Florida). There are several nesting pairs in our area.
It seems to us that a pair that has a nest atop another platform are the same pair that brought sticks to the new platform. They come to the nest and sit in it together. The male brings her fish, etc, but then they go to the other nest…and seem to spend more time there.
Is this a normal behavior?
Hi!
Up until this morning the office spray had a nest. We woke up to see the nest gone without any natural causes. We were wondering if at this point being mid September if the mother Bird is trying to coax the last of its offspring to fly south?
This year we had a nesting pair of ospreys utilize a nesting platform that has been empty for 30 years ospreys pledged in late July one of the Osprey chicks quickly seem to be independent and left the nest area the other check however has stayed in the nest area until now September it doesnt stray far from the nest and mostly sits on the nest and cries to be fed. From time to time an Osprey will bring this chick a fish .it is not appear to do any fishing on its own. whats going on?
There is a young osprey alone crying in its nest. The rest of the family has left for the winter. Why is it just sitting there and crying and not leaving?
Hi,
We live in Knoxville, TN. Our ospreys had 2 babies. The bigger of the two has already fledged (maybe 2 weeks ago?). The dad has already left, too. The smaller baby has been flying some but stays at the nest most of the time. We have not seen the mom in about 4 days. We are worried that the mom has left, and the smaller baby isn’t capable of surviving on its own as far as learning to fish?
Hello. I have a question. Now the children are flying herself. Near bis as her mother. I like to watch them. Last days I sit around 100 meter from nest. But it seems like they still are afraid for me. The children sometimes go to nest.Mother or father come with fish. After some second the parents take off. It seems like the children now use the nest most. Perhaps still have need for fish from parents. Perhaps sleep here. But if you shal watch them. What are the best way. Sit down,still. 1 hour or more. So they feel safety.Can see you.Trust you. Do you know if they use their eyes or (5th. sense), to feel ,see your energy. If you stress. Go around. Make nose. Perhapse. How often do they use the nest now? Children are flying. And if you disturb? They will not go to nest. Perahps the children got fisk another place?
We have had two ospreys nesting on the platform I built years ago every year ! This is only the second year we have had grown babies as eagles attacked the nest each year! The pair had two young . One has fledged ( about two days ago ) but the other still sits on the nest ! Both have been flapping in practice , one more strongly than the other ! Is it usual for them to attain flight across different time frames , or could the one be unable for some reason? Parents seem to still be feeding it and it perched a calls out ! Sibling and parents are in various trees nearby
Hi, my question is we l live in the Pacific Northwest ,Oregon. My husband and I love watching the Ospreys and the Eagles .we have a large snag that’s up acrost on a hillside that we can watch from our porch. No Nest on this nag, just the resting spot for the birds to fly by and happened to meet there. For about 3 weeks now the Ospreys are very very interested in this snag top they sit there, and we watch them a lot. Some look like they’re bringing in branches and my question is will they start planning and maybe bringing in some building materials for spring before they leave for winter? The top of the snag is changing in appearance, it really looks like they are doing some building?? I have tried to Google this but haven’t found any answers?? Thank you so much for your time.
Lisa Richards.
When young osprey are able to fly do they continue to return to the parents nest?
The young osprey has left the nest but is camped out now on our neighbors boat. It seems to not want to fly off at all. Maybe it cant fly. Or is it afraid. What will happen to it?
Thanks
Dianne
Hi Just wondered if a reason exists for an osprey to have never used a nesting site. It was placed in 2007 and is never used. Beside a lake, shallow. What might impact ? Thanks
Tonight I saw some unusual behavior from our resident Ospreys in CT/Long Island Sound and it raised a question: “Is stick ‘carrying and dropping’ a typical Osprey threat display?” As we were sailing in to a busy harbor around dusk, one of the Ospreys (the female probably b/c it was the larger one) was circling around and around their nest platform with a large stick in her talons. She was making a lot of noise. There were seagulls and egrets around – a lot of unusual large bird activity in that patch of water by a pier and an active beach. The Osprey, one of a pair whose chick had just fledged last week, loudly dropped the stick on the pier so that it made a loud clanging noise. Could she have been feeling threatened by the Gulls? I’ve noticed the gulls being aggressive lately around the beach and the pier. What would the gulls be after? Fish in the nest? Hopefully, it wasn’t the fledgling, but that is pretty big by now and taking lots of flights so prob not. What were they communicating and how common is that behavior? I’ve watched them all summer and never seen it!
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT A YOUNG OSPREY IS GETTING READY TO FLEDGE?
It is the last week of July. I think the ospreys kids are on their own now. We have multiple nests along the sound and river that bracket our point. For the last week, the ospreys in the vicinity have been screaming constantly, both on the wing and when sitting in a tree. What’s going on?
Forgot to mention in my previous question about the 2 males with an injured female. I’m in Washington state. Also, it was witnessed that female from another nest has come over and attacked the injured female, but male came in to rescue.
Hi, I’m just curious. I have been watching an osprey nest for about 6 weeks. They had 1 baby. Mom got severely injured 2 days ago, probably by protecting her nest from another raptor. She is not sitting in nest, but sitting on some pilings next to the nest. She has not eaten for 2 days. Have called wildlife rescue and they can’t help. Dad has been bringing in food for baby. Interesting thing though, A male will jump on the female, is he trying to wake her, mate her? I saw dad sitting on pole (at least I thought it was dad), a male came in and jumped on the hurt female, dad came in and chased away. Later we saw a male come in fly into the nest, no food and then flew to some pilings further down from the nest. Another male showed up with fish and chased off the male sitting on the pilings. It almost looks like 2 different males landed on the injured female and 2 different males have been in the nest. Do osprey sometimes help feed at another nest when there is an injured parent?
We had 3 chicks in the nest until about 3 days ago. They all seemed to be thriving by all appearances. There are only 2 chick’s there now. Is it possible one has fledged and already left the nest.
I was camped on the Oregon coast a few days ago, July 17-19, near a large lake. Above our tent site there was a large fir in the top of which was an osprey nest, by the sound of the persistent calls. One morning I noticed a bit of flying around the nest and lots of screeching. Then a large osprey flew from the nest with something in its talons. It perched on a nearby snag and proceeded to dine quite vigorously on its prey. This took some time. After resting a bit it flew back to the nest and took something from it again, flying back to the same perch and ate its fill. But then it did this a third time to the same effect. After the second snatch and feeding there was no more high pitched cheeping from the nest. Do adult osprey cannibalize each other´s chicks? Or did this adult osprey simply find a nest full of uneaten fish which no one seemed to want? The preying osprey was quite large. I did not have binoculars so I could not identify what was being eaten.
We have been watching a pair of Osprey that return every year to the same spot. There are several nests in the area but our camera covers only one. This spring 2 eggs hatched and we’ve watched them grow to “ready to fly” stage. A few days ago, a 3rd juvenile osprey appeared in the nest. Is that common?
I am in SE NC. Osprey nest I watch blew down last year & the chicks were killed. The parents returned this year and nested about 50 yards away. A new platform had been built but the didn’t like it. This years chicks are spending a lot of time on the new platform. Might they return one day? Would the parents let them nest so close?
How long after the babies learn to fly do they leave the nest? I have a pair that nested in a dead palm tree in my yard. They have 2 babies that are just learning to fly (havent flown yet, but its fun to watch the parents teaching them). The tree is DEAD and MUST be removed before it fall on one of the 2 houses it is between. I dont want to remove the tree until the babies are gone. Can someone give me an idea of how long? And YES, the tree MUST be removed.
THanks
It appears that the 2 chicks that hatched about 3 weeks ago have not survived.
My question is, because it is early in the season hear in NH will the adults try to
hatch new eggs this summer or is it one and done each year?
We have an osprey nest in Seaside, Oregon where the dad got hurt with fishing hooks and a fishing line with a sinker attached. He has not been seen since 6/30/19. There are three chicks in this family. One of the chicks has died. It was viciously beaten by it’s two siblings, and had not eaten in two days. Yesterday the mom brought to the nest about 4 or 5 small fish. The second chick keeps the first chick from eating until it is stuffed, so the first chick does not get much to eat either. The mom left the nest around 12:30 PT and has not been seen since. The two chicks have not eaten today. My question is this. What can be done for these chicks if he mom has abandoned them, and who do we contact if they can be helped. It is a live cam with chat, and so many of us are heartbroken about what is happening at this nest.
Thank you for your advice in this matter.
Why do fledgling Osprey seem to pick at their under wing feathers?
Why would an apparently successful osprey, which has raised young in the same nest for 4 years, abandon the nest in late June this year?
I live in Florida and I have an osprey nest in my backyard and today found, what I would say is a “toddler” osprey on the ground. It’s still very white and can’t fly yet, but walks and hops around. There are 2 more up in the nest. Is there anything I can do for it? There’s no way to reach the nest and I’m not going close to this guy as he has some impressive talons already. I’m afraid I have to leave him be but he’s just hanging out around the bottom of the tree and it’s breaking my heart. Thanks.
Hello,
Some background:
We have three Osprey nesting platforms here in Salem (West), Oregon. Our local electrical co-op, Salem Electric, has erected at least two of these platforms within the city limits. One of the platforms they erected has a live cam setup and has a live feed to their YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=982mMK3lc6M
This live feed has been in place for two years. Last year, the first year of this live feed, the returning Osprey pair produced three eggs and all the eggs hatched and they raised three chicks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cPs7jryXaU&list=PLfCXSqRlvp6nU7Q_zpTLe8rJ2yRBpru5u
This year started out as a repeat of last year, three eggs were produced. The first egg appeared on April 29th, with the second egg arriving on May 1st. The third and final egg arrive on Mary 5th. On May 10th there were only two eggs in the nest. A week later there was only one egg in the nest and by June 12th there were none.
Someone at Salem Electric did observe that one of the eggs was cracked open and there was a developing chick inside.
It is hard to know why this years brood didnt survive to hatch. In general terms, it appears that Osprey eggs and other wild bird eggs can be affected by humidity. Rain is a big factor and how well the parents protect the eggs from rain (getting wet) and how well the bedding materials are at staying dry are factors. In a given location, some Osprey nests that researchers have direct access to have been found to have very wet nesting materials while others do not after periods of rain.
My question is now that there are no eggs for Osprey to tend, how long will they hang around their nest?
The Osprey pair are still visiting their nest. They continue to bring nesting materials to the nest, leaves, small twigs, and moss. It is always easy for me to anthropomorphize their behavior but I am guessing the reality is that their hardwired instincts are keeping them around. Their clock/schedule related to this seasons cycle is still running and may continue for some time even without any eggs for them to hatch and chicks to raise.
Thanks for any insights,
Phil
Hello,
I’m so thankful I’ve found your site. We have two Ospreys living on a platform very near our condo in Sarasota and have enjoyed watching they mate, have chicks, and grow. We now have one chick with either its mother or father.
My question is will the baby learn to fly on its own or does it need a parent around. This chick seems to have been left alone, is walking around the nest, and staring over its edge. Will he try to fly soon? Will the parents now abandon the chick? Will they fly and hunt together? When will the chick go off on its own?
I have an osprey that comes to the nest in my yard. It rarely gets in the nest, Most of the time sits on top of the platform above the nest. I have seen it occasionaly in the nest. Once in a while I have seen 2 of them but not very often. Is this normal for osprey?
I recently witnessed very unusual behavior out of one local Osprey.
While I’m not anywhere near the geographic location on this project, this is one place I found that might be able to shed some light on what I witnessed. We have a decent population of non-migratory osprey that I’ve watched for years bringing in fish out of the bay.
Yesterday I observed an osprey being harassed by a pair of Mocking Birds, the large bird was not dissuaded returning multiple times. The neighbor had some small hens out, and this is was the only think I could think was interesting the raptor.
However, the bird soon plopped down in a small, thickly vegetated tree. A rather unusual place for an osprey, all while being pelted by what had increased to four mocking birds. Soon the osprey disappeared into the tree and the calls from the mocking birds became much more frantic. The osprey then burst out of the tree. As it flew low overhead, mocking birds in chase, it had what was unmistakably two small chicks in it’s beak.
What would drive this kind of behavior? Desperation?
Port St. Lucie FL City Hall – We have had the same pair for four years running and has been a blessing to watch from start to finish. This year, our pair has given birth to two chicks.
They hatched around March 11th. The second one to hatch is considerably smaller than his sibling. They hatched (while heavy equipment was digging up and replaced the asphalt road underneath and right around the light pole that supports the nest). They were stifled during the fledgling stage because of the construction. The smaller one was reluctant to leave the nest. The other sibling hung around even after the parents were no longer in the area. The siblings have not been seen since last Thursday. Last evening, the smaller one returned to the nest. I’m hoping he learned his fishing lessons and sticks around. I get the feeling that his chances of survival are not great. What happens if a migrating osprey doesn’t migrate? Thank you for your love for the wild birds. I’m a big fan specifically of Swallow-tail Kites, Osprey, Hawks, and Vultures.
Osprey couple has been sitting on eggs in osprey nest seen from our deck since April 4. What is going on here? It has been 9 1/2 weeks? Not seeing any chicks, although Mom does poke below her at times. Could babies still be that small if they hatched? If eggs are nonviable, how long will she continue to sit on them? Do osprey ever lay a second clutch of eggs in same season?
Have been watching two Ospreys all spring. This morning two very large ones ones seemed to be harassing the two in the nest. Then they landed thee seemed to be fighting while the female stayed hunkered down. Then the two intruders left one is STAYING on a nearby branch. I am so very concerned my two or their babies might have been injured. What to do I wish the leftover intruder would just GO AWAY
Been watching two all spring today two other Ospreys landed on their nest the four seemed to be fighting. Sick to my stomach that they or their babies might have been hurt????
We put up an osprey platform with sticks late last summer in hopes of attracting a mating pair spring ’19. Starting in early March, a pair appeared, added more nest material, mated frequently, defended their turf and presumably laid egg(s) based on the incubating behavior we witnessed. Mom sat on the nest and dad brought in food. We saw nest exchanges between the pair. We even think the chicks hatched, based on observing the parents behavior. They were no longer laying on eggs but standing up, seemingly tending to their young. Today, however, I’m not seeing anything or anyone. I keep checking but the nest is vacant and has been all day. Is this a sign that the chicks have likely died or were killed?
I’m watching the Cornell Site of Ospreys for first time. All three fledged today but later when I returned I saw two of them had RETURNED? So do they come back to the nest to eat? One of them had food the mother provided I suspect. But unlike other birds once gone from nest….gone…but do these come back and if so for how long do they revisit the nest and is only purpose to eat?
Do osprey parents pick up fledglings 3 weeks old and return them to nest?
Do ospreys share the kill with the mate
I’m sad and chagrined to even write this post: This is our 2nd year with an osprey nest. (We had a stand built on a low, existing piling ASAP last year when the male was trying to build on our dock bench).
Yesterday we had visiting kids & grandkids. Two chicks were observed in the nest. The adults and grandkids went swimming in the river for about an hour & a half. Mama osprey circled above, obviously upset. We thought she’d settle in and land back in the nest. This morning there were no chicks and both parents have abandoned the nest!!! We are guessing that this was too long for Mama to be away from the nest. We are so sorry about this! (Last year, we had lots of human activity on our dock and in the water but not till July 4th & on. The ospreys became accustomed to us.There was one chick hatched and fledged).
How should we proceed in the future? Should we get a piling put in further from the dock? Should we wait till July to use our dock and swim?
So, I keep reading how osprey vision is exceptionally powerful, but a lot of the articles say that they use their senses, as in plural. What else do they use when hunting? How good is their hearing?
A pair of osprey have come to the nest in front of our lake house for two years but do not pay any eggs. How old are Osprey when they begin to lay?
About how long after eggs are laid do the young hatch?
Follow up of activity on nest with one surviving adult.
The nest now is totally destroyed. It’s in a heap on the ground at the bottom of the tower. I can only speculate on how it happened. I tried looking for eggs or remnants of eggs without disturbing the mess. I didn’t see any signs of eggs in any condition.
I have observed an Osprey returning to the nesting tower. Once with a catch but it didn’t stay very long before it flew off. A second time I observed an Osprey sitting on the perch beside the platform.
I didn’t have time to stay and observe it.
Is there still time to possibly find a new mate and begin all over??
This, like other nesting platforms in my area, has had returning pairs for several years.
On May 20th our Ospreys eggs hatched. Both male and female have been very attentive to the nest.The female has looked a bit weatheredto me. We have been watching the birds daily from our window. I saw one bring a fish to the nest last night. This morning when we looked at the nest, both birds were gone. Later in the morning the female retuned for about an hour, and sat on the side of the nest, and just looked down in the nest for quite a while and then she flew away. Neither bird has returned. We are unable to see down in the nest. Why did they leave the nest. We have seen them in nearby trees. But they have not retuned to the nest. Thanks in advance for your in put.
Theres an osprey nest on a bench at the end of our neighbors pier on the Chesapeake Bay. I was there today and there were two eggs on the deck and no osprey in sight. I picked them up with a paper towel and put them back on the nest. Im not sure how long they were down. Do you have any guidance on what to do with fallen osprey eggs?
I was told at a lecture that ospreys take vacations–first mama then pops?…Any truth to that?
Why would a osprey eat one of their eggs ten or so days before hatching?
Can I post a photo on this site?
why would an osprey abandon its eggs as in Iris in Missoula-sad to watch after waiting all winter!
What will the female do if she is clearly sitting in her nest but her mate hasn’t returned? I saw a pile of black and white feathers down the road and I am convinced it was her mate. She is now sitting quite visibly on the nest which I haven’t seen before. So far it’s been about 3 days since the male was hit.
Can she hatch, feed, and reasonably protect young chicks and herself without a mate?
Would she give up incubating after a certain amount of time without help from her mate?
We have a platform that has been used for 13 years. This year the Eagles took over the platform for sitting during the winter . The Osprey returned and reclaimed their nest and the female was nesting for over a month. The Eagles returned and started fighting with the Osprey and now we only see one Osprey.
If the Eagle took the egg would the female leave the nest? Will the male just stay at that nest protecting his territory?
We have worked with our Ornithological Society and assist in banding the Osprey Chicks every July and not seeing two is very disconcerting.
We had two pair of osprey begin their nesting patterns on Mercer Lake near the Oregon coast. One pair reclaimed their nest from a Canada goose family and the second rebuilt in a tree where a previous nest had blown out in a storm. About two weeks ago, obnoxious jet skiers tormented all of us for 7 days straight, I noticed in the last week that both pair of osprey seem to have left. Is that a cause and effect from the jet ski behavior?
I am so sad that they have gone.
Do both males & females sit on the eggs?
If an osprey chick falls from a nest or is dislodged by a strong storm will the parents retrieve it and return it to the nest?
The Hellgate osprey nest in Missoula, Montana has a nest with two eggs, but the male is taking care of another female in another nest nearby and now (last few days) only comes by occasionally, just to copulate as far as I have seen. The female is leaving the nest to get fish on her own. Is there any hope for her to successfully incubate and raise these chicks on her own?
http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/
I see osprey in souther Florida. They are having babies in winter months. Where do they go in the summer?
Watching the Bellwood Lake Osprey Cam
Every time the male comes back to the nest he grabs the female’s wing feathers and pushes her off the eggs. He’s quite insistent about it. He seems to spend as much or more time on the eggs as she does. It’s been the same over the last couple of years. I’ve not seen him bring a fish at all this year only sticks and corn husks.
Is this common ?
We have a osprey next in a tower across the street. Last summer we were entertained by them as they waited for their eggs to hatch and watched as they raised their babies. They came back this year, repaired their nest and we were so happy to see them back. Then they started to do some work in the tower and now the birds are gone. Will they come back? I am heartbroken for them.
I have an osprey nest next door to my house in a small mobile home park; the same pair returns year after year. There is a large black walnut tree in my yard and the often land there and tear up their catch before taking it to the nest. Two days ago I found a very large salmon laying on the ground in my backyard; not tear marks at all, it was quite dead but could not have been there for more than a day. Would an osprey even attempt to pick up a fish on the ground if it was still alive? And btw; we have all seen them bring in a rat or 2 and many lamprey eels, so, not only fish.
Hi there, love the webcam. Asking a question about a pair of Osprey here on the Chesapeake Bay. We have a pair (Frankie and June) that lost their nest of many years to geese this spring. So we worked with local conservation to install a replacement nest/nesting pole on a piling over the water. The pair – way behind schedule, the mother had already laid one egg on the ground – immediately took to the new nest; the male was building while the hen immediately perched inside. However, a young male has been challenging the couple for the nest (?) with the couple fighting him off. Yesterday was a big battle w/ the challenger fully in the nest wreaking havoc. I believe it was male mate vs. male challenger. Then one left. Then the hen (I think) finally came back into the nest, but immediately started calling frantically. When the mate showed up, they both were completely distraught. They kind of started taking turns sitting at the nest and “crying.” Then both flew off and now the hen refuses to sit on the nest as she had been doing all last week; no one stayed in the nest at night. The two are now sitting in their regular nearby tree, neither has been in the nest at all. Any insight into (a) what happened, and (b) is happening now / what to watch for?
The Coast Guard came to do maintenance on the local Columbia River marker; for approximately two hours; where the Osprey are nesting.
The three eggs; if not stolen, ( I believe they were) were exposed to air-and not protected for the endurance of two hours-could these eggs remain viable?
The female; who previously had came, and went; trading off with the male-refuses now to leave there nest at all. After the maintenance was completed the Osprey were so traumatized; that it broke my heart. For 45 minutes the couple would fly as though searching for a loss of eggs. The remainder of the day; both sat motionlessly on the nest-I’m still very upset.
Ive seen geese occupying an osprey box the last few weeks of April. Will osprey successfully chase the geese from these boxes when they return to nest? Can osprey compete with geese for these nesting sites?
Thanks, Dover ID
Sorry replied to a post and didnt post my own comment. Theres a nesting pair in my school parking lot on a light post. They successfully fledged a pair of chicks last year. They are back with two chicks this year…only in the last 3 days ive only seen one being fed and no sign of the other. Have they lost the chick or is it normal for chicks to go through long periods of inactivity.
Hi. I am watching two osprey webcams in Scotland. Whilst one pair are now sitting on three eggs and everything seems to be going well, the other pair have gone missing for nearly 40 hours now. They had been mating and back on the nest for about 8 days, but no eggs laid. Do they sometimes roost elsewhere than on the nest, or have they perhaps abandoned the nest? Feeling quite concerned… No
Hello,
We put up an osprey platform in the late fall. About a month ago, an osprey pair showed up and built their nest. They would show everyday on and off but recently have been skipping days here and there.Is is likely theyve built a nest elsewhere?
Hi, We live on Siltcoos Lake in Oregon. We have had the same pair nesting outside our home for the last four years. This year the male did not come back. Last year the female got a hook caught in one of her talons. She is now favoring it all the time and stands perched on 1 foot generally speaking. We are very concerned about her. She seems to be in pain. Can you tell us what happens to a female when a male does not come back to the nest. And is there anyone who could help her with her injury?
Ospreys have been building a nest for the last few years on top of a utility pole in Branford Ct. The town took the cross member down during the winter to prevent further nesting. I’ve been seeing an osprey sitting on top of the pole several times in the last two weeks. Will he/she be able to find another nesting spot? He/she keeps trying to put twigs on top of the pole which just falls off. It looks so sad.
Our new neighbor installed a dusk to dawn security street light at waters edge when he built his dock .he also installed osprey pole and platform .next door dock platform has had successful nests every year …this year the 2 pair rwho are esidi g on these nests near that light are way behind in their nest construction:ie ..hardly any thing on the platforms, and 2 birds on each platform just standing around…so are they sleep deprived or something from the all night led light?
Hi, I have had an osprey nest for 18 years now and this is a first. I had two adults and five days ago she started laying on her eggs. Now all of a sudden there are three adults in the nest and they are getting along fine. What goes? Diana
I have been watching the Dahlgren Osprey cam. What would cause an osprey to fill his nest with stuffed animals. It is almost like he thinks he is filling the “pantry”. 1st egg laid on 4/1/19 I believe.
An osprey couple built a nest last year in a tall dead pine tree in my back yard, ( NC-Cape Fear coast ). Thunderstorms last summer damaged their nest tree to such an extent that’s it’s essentially unusable for nest building. On March 11, 2019, the osprey couple returned, precisely, to their former, compromised, tree. I watched them attempt to build a nest, but the materials would simply fall out of the tree. The couple remained around this tree for a few more days, then there was only one that stayed around for a couple more days. I built a nest platform over the winter, in the same area, anticipating the problems they were going to encounter with the old nest-tree. However, they have shown no interest in the new platform. I’ve not seen the pair in the last few days, but I’ve seen three ospreys, on a couple of occasions, in my immediate area, performing the “aerial dance”, but they’ve also vanished. I don’t know what it all means. I wonder if the original pair gave up on the area, or if the pair separated for lack of a suitable nest-site, or maybe if it’s all still in a state of flux and development. I’m hoping they will remain in the general area, just a slightly different location.
Last year, a couple of the osprey in the nest across the road from us, was hit by a severe hail storm, killing maybe one adult and two little ones. I think think the carcasses are still in the nest. Will the returning osprey nest there this year?
We just saw a dead Osprey and a live osprey up on the Nast what the dead osprey was on the ground a ways away from the nest what will happen to the remaining osprey
Hi there, we live on lake Oconee in Georgia. We are fortunate to have a large Ospray population. I have enjoyed watching them over the years. We have a couple of Ospray that build their nest on top of a chimney across the cove last year. Well I guess the home owners didnt appreciate that and this year they had a nest proof top put on their chimney. Well the couple returned to build over a week ago and have continued unsuccessfully to try and build their nest. The sticks just slide off. Its kinda sad to watch. How long will they keep trying? Will they eventually move on to another spot? Thank you so much! Vicki
Hello. We have a osprey nest being built all day today by only one bird here in front of our house on the Neuse River, Havelock, NC. Two days ago we saw two birds working together on the nest. But today it looks like only one. We are feeling a bit concerned that the other bird is alright and wondering if this is typical if their behavior? Gail
how do osprey fight
Do osprey pairs stay together while not at their nest (i.e., not during the mating/nesting period)?
Our ospreys are back, but still have not laid any eggs. We are in Venice Florida and its already the end of February. Do you think theyll not brood st All this late? Last year they had two babies who survived only a few weeks
Hi Osprey watchers…I have an Osprey nest in a tree in my front yard here on Merritt Island Fl. The male arrived months ago. He built his nest which is pretty large now. The female arrived just 2 weeks ago (Jan). They are beautiful! The male has started a sky dance which has been amazing to watch. Female has inspected the nest; he brings new sticks often. There is constant chatter with high pitched screaming and whistling (I can hear from in the house). This is the first time we have had Osprey nest in the neighborhood…there have been eagles here. Dont know if they will produce eggs this year since it is the first time weve seen a nest. Thought it might be a new pairing. Should we notify Florida Wildlife that they are here? My garden is very near the nest..as I work in it, they watch me from above. Love watching them and have set up my camera to capture the experience.
Susanne in Merritt Island
We live on an inland waterway north of palm beach florida. An osprey couple have been on the same pole/nest in the marsh for 4 years- always appears to be the same couple. They are building a nest over the past week, and this morning we awoke to see a 3rd adult osprey on the pole in the marsh keeping about 3 feet of distance between itself and the couple. We have never seen another bird join the couple. Is this likely a random single adult looking for a mate, or is this possibly one of the couples offspring from previous years that has returned to its home nest to hang out with its parents?
An osprey sits at the top of a tree behind our house. At times, it chirps as if calling for a mate. Do you think that is what is going on? It is a large bird so possibly a female.
Hi! Im watching a pair of osprey attempting to build a nest in a branch of a tree with no success! He brings stick after stick and cant get any in place for a foundation. What happens next and is there any way I can assist?
Thank you, Cheryl
I’ve been watching 5 or 6 Ospreys working the beach this week in Cocoa Beach Florida. They seem to have been not too successful catching fish and I’m thinking it must be due to the Red Tide in the last few weeks that led to massive fish kills along the coast. How often do they need to eat ,to keep up their strength to stay alive?
Hello, how many fish do ospreys eat per year? Thanks
I have an Osprey that has been perched in the tallest tree behind my house for days now. I live in the Tampa Bay Area in Florida. Is the Osprey ok? It is bothering me because I have a small dog and I have read that they will attack small animals for food. I know that their diet is mainly fish. I see no other signs of movement, it just sits atop the tree.
Thank you,
Jean
Why do ospreys make their nests out of palm tree parts? Most osprey nests we see usually are.
Seems that 9ne Osprey baby is left befind. It cries constantly. It can fly and does. What will happen?
Is it normal for an Osprey to sit on the deck fence, less than 8 feet from our door. They was an Osprey nest last year on utility pole by our deck. The bird has been sitting for about 2/3 hours.
It is 9/6/18. We have been watching an osprey nest in Mussel ridge channel, Penobscot Bay, ME with at least 4 birds in it thru our telescope. Then there were none. A week ago , the nest for a time seemed empty. now a single osprey is on the nest most of the time. We assumed it was the last of the fledglings to leave, now we are seeing THRU the telescope what may be a chick In addition to the osprey. It seems very late for a chick to hatch.
Is it possible that eggs would be hatching at this late date?
Hello,
Three Osprey fledglings did very well. All started flying about 3 weeks ago. There is one which remains. It flys around and makes calls but no siblings or parents around. Can you tell me why it is still around? Alone
Will a nesting pair destroy their nest once the fledgling is up and about…our nest was here today and 80% gone the next….parents and young one remained around for about 10 days after
We have an osprey perched on a six ft post about 80 feet from house. We are on Baie de Chaleurs Quebec canada where we enjoy them all summer. We have never seen this before. It has been sitting there for two hours. Could it be unwell? Thank you
I have a home on the coast in Downeast Maine. At what time In the tide do the ospreys normally fish ( ie. high tide , low tide, incoming or outgoing)
Thanks
I work on a paving crew in Spokane Wa and a few months back we were paving douth of CHeney, and while working I noticed a Pair of Ospreys and their nest, I wax back there today and noticed that the nest was gone but one of the birds was perched on the platform. Is this common??
This may be a stupid question, but Im gonna ask it anyway. I like flounder, but It doesnt mean I like all fish. Since you are following loads of pairs of Ospreys, have you ever noticed that although they are eating a fish it may not be their favorite? I thank all of you who give us a look into the day-to-day life of a magnificent bird.
I notice on the two web cams I follow that at night now maybe one parent or no parent, just the chicks that now leave the nest in daylight. So do the Ospreys hunt fish at night is my question.
We have an osprey nest with two fledglings. I read where the females typically leave a month before the males do. It appears the female has left, as we no longer see four birds on the nest. What we observed the last week is two ospreys scuffling on the nest, with one always losing and flying off. Am thinking the papa osprey, now that moma osprey is gone, is kicking the fledglings out of the nest. Is that what is happening ? Thanks
Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks
Helpful page! Ive been Osprey watching for a couple of months now, on the West River, Maryland. Since Im a cruiser, I have an opportunity to watch them on the water. Oddly enough, over the past month/month and a half, there is one male Osprey that has taken a shine to our sailboat home. It doesnt seem to matter where in the anchorage we settle. He finds us. Its to the point that even when we are on deck, playing music and waking around, hes happy as can be. It seems we are his loafing perch. The past two days, weve been calling him Squeaks, as hes regularly doing the guard call when other Osprey come near us, or other birds. Typically Turns and Gulls.
Usually, other Osprey see humans and either fly away or holler. Depending on nest or mast. As I type this, Squeaks is back on his perch.
Is this unusual behavior for an Osprey? Im thinking perhaps hes a younger bird, potentially without a mate. Ive yet to determine where his nest is however. He seems quite content on our mast, and sometimes the spreaders.
Thanks in advance for your time and input.
Hi, I have been watching an osprey couple over the course of this breeding season. They had one chick that had almost fledged. Unfortunately, the recent, constant, and heavy, rains, (NC coast) weakened the nest causing a complete collapse / failure a couple days ago. I found the chick, at the base of the nest-tree, on the ground, and it appeared uninjured. Checking with the local Raptor Center, they advised for me not to do anything, and that its parents knew its location and could attend to the chick on the ground, the same as in the nest. And, at this point in the season, this chick may have flown. Also, that if the chick was removed, it could never learn to fish, without the aid of its parents. Mother nature can be tough. Hoping for the best.
Hello. Will a fledgling ever return to the nest when it first leaves or just hang out nearby begging for food We just watched a nestling leave the nest for first time on live camera. Will we see that bird again?
Great site; learning from other Q&As! One osprey around our small lake has begun to cry out incessantly around 3 or 4 a.m., wsking up many neighbors. Not sure if somethings wrong with it?
We are watching 5 ospreys for a while. Parents and 3 babies. Two of the babies are flying around, but the 3rd one is on the ground, walking and flopping its wings, but not returning to the nest. Could he be hurt, kicked out of the nest or just not ready yet.??
Do baby ospreys come to the same area of their parents the following year after they fledge?
I have been watching an Osprey nest in Orange Ct fir a few months now. They are amazing! For the last week I have been unable to get to the area until today and it seems that the nest is empty. I see crowa going in and out of the nest. The last tI’m I saw the osprey it seemed that a large seagull was buzzing the nest and doing inflight combat with the osprey. We dId have a huge thunderstorm last night but that shouldn’t bother them. Any clue?
how often and at what time of day will the osprey feed theyre young,,they came late march and have 2 chicks about 2/3rds the size of the adults now..theyre walking around the nest and spreading theyre wings often.
SE Cape Coral is experiencing green algae plumes in the canals the last two weeks. The osprey family of five, have been gone a week now. Is there a correlation?
we have an osprey nest in our backyard and every year its the same thing yet this year something has happened. One of the babies was dead on the ground at the bottom of the nest, there is 1 left in the nest yet I don’t know if its the mother or the other baby. I don’t see the male fly in I don’t hear the usual chirping. Have the parents left the living baby behind in the nest by itself? have not seen the male all day
I have been watching Rachel and Steve on Hog Island and because she lost a chick the night before she stayed up all night to defend them. How long will she be able to go without any sleep?
I have two questions:
We have had a pair of nesting Osprey for a number of years either in our tree or a neighbors tree.
This year for the first time they seem to be tearing the nest apart. We are used sticks on the ground during construction but now that the chicks are flying there is a large amount of sticks on the ground.
Any thoughts on why they would be destroying their own nest?
For years they nested in our tree, we even put a platform up for them as the storms tended to damage the nest. But for some reason for the they have nested in other trees all within 200 feet of the orig nest. Why?
Fascinating and a bit like we humans! Another question; we watched a chick die this season from starvation; the little dead body laid in the nest for quite awhile. How is it disposed of? Thanks very much.
The Charlo nest cam is currently covered with poo as the babies take careful aim over the side of the nest. how do they know to poo outside of the nest ?
Hello,
I am wondering how long an Osprey chick can go without food after it hatches? I am watching Jane and George at the North Fork, Long Island nest. Jane seems to be surprised at the new chick that hatched early this evening. Hopefully George will help her out and all will be okay. Thanks.
I have been observing an osprey nest with 3 babies. Recently one of the babies seems to be attacking a weaker sibling, pecking at the back of her neck. Is this typical behavior for osprey young? Why doesn’t mama osprey intervene?
If something happens to the female will themale care for the babies
When luis delivered the fish why was iris freaking out and pushed him out of the nest in hellgate?
I’ve been fascinated by watching the Hog Island triplets! Today, I think I saw Steve REMOVE a fish from the nest, and have not seen him return with another yet. (Maybe I missed it.) From past observations, he’s usually there about every 2 hours, but now it looks like it’s been several hours since he’s brought food. He’s only been back a few times with twigs (I can definitely see the need to build up the height of the walls of the nest). The chicks seem hungry, and at one point were toddling around and chewing on the plant material in the nest. Then Rachel flew off, and the chicks took a sudden hunkered position and didn’t move. For the first time, I noticed that the stripe on their back and the color of some of the feathers on their backs matched the twigs and moss that nest is built on. Couple questions: 1) Do the chicks instinctively know to hunker when the mother leaves the nest, or does mom give some kind of command? 2) Why remove a fish? Because it’s dead? 3) How often do the chicks need to feed, now that they’re more than 2 weeks old?
Good Morning to all. I live in Port Richey, Fla and across the street is a Publix shopping center and on top of 1 of their light poles looks to be an osprey nest. We ( being my 6yr old grandson, 14yr old daughter and myself) have been watching this nest for a couple months now. What happened a couple days ago has had us googling these birds, which I feel is a good experience for all involved. It looked to be 1 of the parents was bringing breakfast to i believe the baby (they all seem to be about the same size, we don’t have binoculars) anyways when the 1 with fish approached the other Jr tried grasping the fish and it turned into a downward spiral. I thought they where going to hit the ground which is very unlikely ( as they are birds, birds don’t do this) about 10 ft from ground both finally started to fly upwards. 1 went to the nest with said food and the other went to a nearby light pole. My question is this and we have been debating this as, are the parents trying to get Jr to fly or fish on his own? Since that day it looks like both parents are nearby watching each on their own poles. They don’t seem like a danger to said bird. This morning he was flapping his wings and making all kinds of noise but still hasn’t taken flight. I’ve enjoyed reading this thread and wanted to post our experience for others to enjoy or learn from. Amazing birds we have all enjoyed watching them, and are excited as to what’s to happen next. Have a osprey- ome day.
what would cause ospreys to abandon their nest
I’m actually very new to watching Osprey nests. Goodness they are beautiful birds!! I’ve been watching the Hellgate Canyon nest in Montana for a couple weeks now, and I’ve got a question I hope someone has an answer to, Louis has been feeding Iris when she’s incubating, is that normal for ospreys, or are these two unique? I have not been watching other osprey nests, but I do watch Bald Eagle nests, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a parent feeding a parent.
What happens if the male Osprey has been hurt or had died and cannot bring fish to the chicks. I’m watching the Hellgate Ospreys in Montana that have 3 days old chicks. The male Louie has been missing a whole day. Iris and the chicks have not been fed since the night before.I am worried about the three baby chicks.
our osprey nest had two osprey in it again this year but about after a month or so the left the nest in mid May and. it looks like a new nest is being built in an old dead tree just 100 ft away. What would cause osprey to abandon a nest. i did attach a purple martin nest below it about 10′ off ground but 20′ below osprey nest, would that cause the move? Also there was a strong fishy smell coming from the nest area shortly after they abandoned it. I want to take my drone and get pictures of the nest to see if there is anything unusual. Any ideas what happened?.
Hi, I’ve been watching the Audubon cam in Greenwich Ct from time to time, and just 20 minutes ago noticed the parent hovering over the two eggs, but not brooding. Then I notice she placed a talon on one egg, and a second later took flight. No eggs in nest! Could she have dumped them? Then She came back with a fish.
Placida, FL. I’ve been watching a pair of ospreys from the first nest sticks, through the laying, hatching of three babies, feeding, and fledging of all but one juvenile bird. The nest is on a channel marker over Placida Sound. It appeared that one adult bird stayed for sometime with the last juvenile but eventually left. The juvenile has been alone in the nest for at least two weeks calling out. I’ve noticed lately the bird is leaving and returning to the nest. Apparently feeding itself. The nest is falling apart. What gives? Is this bird a social outcast, a bit slow or what? I’m concerned.Carol
Hello, we’ve been watching an Osprey nest for about 2.5 months now, three eggs total, the first one hatched but passed away a week later. The other two eggs didn’t hatch and one by one disappeared from the nest in the last 3 days (because she kept leaving the nest and wasn’t sitting on them much). Now the Ospreys are back at the nest and it looks like they’ve freshened it a bit. Could they be preparing to lay eggs again? It doesn’t seem like they have given up yet.
Everything I’ve read say they only lay eggs around March or April but is it possible for them to lay eggs again? We have been so attached to this couple it is hard to think of any other answer.
Thanks.
HI, we have loved watching an Osprey pair at the park, Long Island NY. This is the 3rd season that we have been aware of, but it may have been before. A pair was there in early Spring, same nest spot, on top of lights, but we haven’t seen either one for about a week. The park has wild parrots that have always been there, thday nest on other light poles. This year the parrots seemed to be also using the same pole as the Ospreys. Could this have bothered them? If they don’t lay eggs do they leave the nest? Even though it’s been a week could they still come back?
Do Osprey nurse their young.
May question relates to Katies Mat 15, 2018I also noticed the chick gone and the female Osprey continues to sit on the two eggs. How long will she continue to sit on the eggs? She has been sitting on these eggs a very long time. I have been watching all the web cams showing the Ospreys and falcons for a long time. Im thinking her eggs are not viable.
I work for Fish and Wildlife and picked up a Juvenile Osprey that had fallen out of a nest last night. He appears to be doing well. Is taking water and is very verbal today. I am waiting for our Wildlife Rehabilitator to come pick it up and make sure he is ok. My question is, how can I feed him in the meantime? I’ve tried minnows, but he is not impressed.
Hello,
The Opsreys nest on top of a telephone pole on my property. I live on the water at the end of a peninsula.
Yesterday, I had one large dead tree taken down(about an acre from the nest). Today, I heard and saw the Ospreys. However, I have not seen them in there nest. Did they abandon it because of the noise? Will they return?
I’ve been watching an OspreyLive Cam now for several weeks and two mates have been taking care of three eggs. One of the eggs hatched and they had been feeding it for at least a week. A couple of days ago the female osprey picked the baby up by it’s neck flew away and returned without it. They appear to still be taking care of the eggs. Any idea why the mother would get rid of the baby?
Their is an Osprey putting branches on my boat every day, and every evening I brush them off in an attempt to keep them from nesting.
Will they move on as their need for a nest grows? What can I do, I cannot let them make a nest and their fore lose the boat for the entire season….
Please help,
Will Osprey chicks climb their parents backs in the nest before they fledge.
Is it common for osprey parents to leave the nest unattended after eggs are laid? At the Central Lakes College osprey nest cam in Minnesota the pair left their eggs alone last year and they were snowed on and then eaten by prey. The pair left the nest and after rarely returning left for good in early summer.
This year the first egg showed up today and within 2 hours the parents left the egg and hours later haven’t returned. I’m not convinced this is the usual pair that come each year.
I live in Northern Florida and wonder if Ospreys fish at night around here?
Is there an age were the female stops laying eggs
I live in Bayville NY. A new Osprey nesting platform was placed in the wetlands, replacing an older
platform that had been there for years. There have been two Osprey on the platform for a couple weeks now. They return daily but do not seem to building a nest, Is there an explanation for this? They do seem to be small in size.
I noticed a pair of osprey starting to build a nest on a telephone pole near our house. The sticks keep falling and they seem to be struggling a bit. Should I contact the DEC to see if they would put a box there for them or would that human interference scare them away? I would like to see them stay and raise some chicks.
I live on the Pamlico sound Outerbanks NC. 2 ospreys have been sitting on the end of my pier for at least 2 weeks. Couple of days ago I noticed they have started a nest. At least thats what I think it is. Just a few twigs piled together. There are platforms close to the water in neighboring yards with no nest so I dont know why they would choose this spot. The nest is on one of the metal support rails of my boat lift. I dont use the lift but the rail is narrow & long & the wind in this area can be extreme sometimes. Even in the summer. Its been cold so they havent gotten very much built. My question is…if I go out now & attach some kind of platform in the spot where they have started will they use it or will they leave. Or could they have a nest somewhere close by & theyre just fishing off my pier? One of them might leave for a little while but basically they are both there all day & im assuming all night. Theyre there when I go to bed & there when I get up
the nest in richmond ca with female male and 3 eggs had an osprey visitor today
there were no alarm calls and the female say quietly near the third osprey
we thought i might be a child from a previous mating come back to visit a young male
do former children cone by often?
Why when they catch a fish ! They fly around and make so much noise? Are they trying to distract peditors away from nest ?
Hello. Ive been watching the Osprey cam at Pink Shell, Fort Myers, Florida. The male (was observed with a fishing lure in his chest a couple of weeks ago – not sure if thats still embedded but hes been bringing fish in regularly to Mum and two chicks ) has not been seen for almost a full 24 hours. How long can the chicks survive with no fish? Will the female fish herself at some stage? This has been a worrying nest as two weeks ago one chick was tangled in fishing line but the wonderful local wildlife centre removed it and the chick seems fine (though aggressive towards younger sibling). Any advice would be very welcome. Thank you.
I’ve been watching an osprey pair in coastal North Carolina. All seemed normal, but then, the parents were nowhere to be seen. A vulture was seen sitting on a limb above the unattended osprey nest. Could the osprey parents have abandoned the nest because of the vulture?
I have a osprey nest near my home in the 7mile area of Riverside State Park on the Spokane River.
We had about 3 years in a row of succesful breeding pair with 3 babies. Last year we had a goose pair take over the nest and refuse to leave when the osprey arrived. When the geese left the osprey started nest building and mating but gave up and left. I believe I saw a osprey pair today, earliest ever sighting. Any tips on getting rid of these geese that are hanging around?
We had healthy osprey families for the first two years,the third year a buzzard killed one of the two juveniles. He was left dangling from the nest and we removed him. The fourth year a pair of inexperienced parent gave birth to three chicks but the first born killed off his siblings. Last year we had a pair who came but then one of the two disappeared and the other sat mournfully waiting to no avail. My question: Should we remove the somewhat large nesting materials left in the nest? Could they be contaminated ? We have had one pair this year who came, flirted and left.
Will high winds up to 20 mph cause osprey adults to
leave their nests?
I live on a farm in western Massachusetts. My wife saw what a appeared to an osprey flying nearby. Later while harvesting peppers in a field she found a fish buried head first in the field with most of the body exposed. Could an osprey have done this?
John Spineti
What would happen to an ecosystem if the osprey population were to decrease?
A young osprey we watched through a telescope from hatching this spring seems to spend most of the day sitting on the nest calling (to the parents?) I saw it eating fish about four days ago, but otherwise it just sits and screams. No sign of the parents who may have already migrated. And certainly not the bountiful food it was use to being served by the parents all summer.
The nest is located on a channel marker in the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia
Is this normal behavior? Has it not yet learned to fish? Will it learn? Will it know how and when to migrate.? It sounds so pitiful.
I watch the Osprey Cam in Orange Beach Al, About 3 weeks ago 2 of the 3 hatchlings started flying. The 3rd one will flap his wings occasionally but that is all. Is this unusual. I am afraid something is wrong with his wings as they look a little unusual.
Ospreys built very large nest on arch of a pier next to my house on Long Island sound in Stanford Connecticut. there is a raised walkway that connects to the arch which apparently aided their efforts. For the last few weeks they have been trying to build another one on the other arch. This one does not have the walkway or anything connected to it and almost all of the materials they bring simply drop down. They sometimes retrieve twigs that fall into the water, but never the ones that drop immediately below to the pier, where a substantial pile has formed. The first nest was a big success. The second a complete failure. Saw a hatchling today for the first time. Anyone have an idea what’s happening?
Hello, I live in Atlantic Beach, Florida and have always had Osprey’s nest in our huge oak tree in our backyard by a large lake.
This year, they decided to build their nest in our next door neighbors Chimney top. They had two fledglings this year but we found one dead on the ground, the other has just started flying in the last week.
When can we expect all of them to leave the nest so that my neighbors can clean out their chimney?
They want to take the material from the chimney and move it to the platform in our tree but neither of us have been able to find any article on when we can do so.
I look forward to your reply.
I have been watching an osprey cam with 3 5+ week-old chicks. This is the 5th year this osprey pair has nested here. They are incredible “parents” as far as nestbuilding and fishing goes Now that the chicks are bigger, the female spends the night on a branch connected to the nesting platform, usually 3-4 feet above the nest. Tonight a Great-Horned Owl took one of the chicks. The female Osprey tried to fight it off the nest, but did not succeed. What is the ospreys night vision like, and can they fly in the dark? I ask because she was sounding alerts but the male did not come to defend the nest. Also, how far away could she see the owl coming?
Do Osprey eat their young? I’m watching a nest on EarthCam, and watched two of the three siblings die. I’m guessing either disease or starvation. But could never catch what the mother did with the bodies. Does the mother take them off site, or roll them over the edge?
We have a nest in portland oregon at the portland international raceway. There is a big one atop the light where they have thursday night motorcross. They were there at the beginning of the season, now its the beginning of july and have not seen them the last couple of weeks. Does anyone know what happened to them. Did one die, did they not have offspring this year what happened. They nest here every year. WHAT HAPPENED!
I am currently watching the Osprey Cam at GRCA Belwood in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. Three chicks hatched, 2 survived, very feisty and thriving well. However the female left the nest at 3am Sunday morning and has not returned to the nest. Besides her coming to some sort of peril, would there be a reason for a mother to just leave the nest and not come back to her chicks? The father is covering all the duties now as best he can, but I fear for their survival. I would appreciate any information on this.
Kind regards
Megan Raasch
osprey parents seem to have abandoned the nest. The babies are still alive. What should i do?
HOW LONG DOES OSPREY NEST WITH BABIES?
There is an Osprey that sits on top of a street light in Ocean City NJ…it arrives every night 10 min after the sun sets and leaves every morning about 10 minutes before the sun rises. It arrived in 2016 around the month of May and left in the month of October. I noticed this year 3 weeks ago it arrived on the same street light after sunset.
Why does this bird sit on a street light all night?
Are they nocturnal? It never moves? I would assume it flies back to its nest by the bay during the day.
I’ve played a YouTube video of an Osprey calling and it responds back by singing.
What are your thoughts.
Thank you
Our Ospreys suddenly left…she looked to be nesting all squatted down gor about 4 days.
Male returned occasionally…then one day we saw her just leave.. not come back. Been 3 days.. why would they do this when they seemed to be happy here gor weeks..
We have a man-made eagles nest near our property in western Minnesota. This is our first spring here so I am unsure what used the structure in the past but this spring we had a pair of osprey. We watched as they built their nest. Then the female seemed to be nesting. Staying in the nest, down low. But it has now been a week since we have seen either. Just wondering what might cause them to abandon the nest. Bad weather? It has been cold with days of rain and snow
Male osprey never returned to nest with fish for two days now. Mom and one baby are left squawking all through the night. If he never returns, will they survive?
I have a cell tower behind my house. It looks like both bald eagles and osprey are using it for nesting. Do they normally use the same nesting platform for their nests at the same time?
My boyfriend has been fishing by an estuary that feeds directly off the Atlantic Ocean in St Augustine, FL. Over the last two weeks, he’s had an osprey follow his line as he casts off the shore, and the osprey even took a small fish off his hook as he reeled it in. The bird recently has taken to walking around in the grass near my boyfriend and his fishing buddies, and even perched on his golf cart, awaiting presumably lunch and has gotten closer and closer. The bird is probably within 10 feet of him. Is this normal behaviour for ospreys?
osprey is a migratory bird or not
Hi my friend lives on a small lake in South Florida, there is a single female Osprey( judging by it’s size) its been here for a year at least. We usually see it sitting on a branch in a palm tree or flying by the window searching the lake for fish. Lately it has been spending a lot of time just sitting on the ground, which is odd because it is not eating, just sitting there. It is able to fly because we watched it for a good 30 minutes or so and watched it fly off. We have seen it doing this for several days in a row. This seems like odd behavior for an Osprey.
I am reporting from a nest site near the Center for Urban Horticulture about 3 miles south of the Sandpoint webcam. UW Crews constructed a nest platform in the area known as the Fill and removed an osprey nest from atop light poles surrounding the baseball field.
The osprey had three chicks and approximately 2 weeks ago the adult female migrated southward and was followed several days later by the adult male and presumably 2 of the juveniles. No one directly observed the departure of the juveniles although there were photos posted of all three on September 23,2016. One female juvenile osprey remains and while she circles high above the nest platform, I have not seen her fishing. She does call plaintively, particularly at dusk, but the area near the nest site is often closed for construction and I have not been able to check on her condition for a couple days.
Is it possible to leave fish for her near the nest platform? Can she survive without migrating or is some type of intervention appropriate. Please advise asap. The area is required to be open on weekends and I will try to find her later today.
We’ve had an osprey nest in a tall pine for several years. It appears the kids recently flew the nest and several days ago the nest all but disappeared. The parents ? are still perching on the tree and saw one bring a fish to other just yesterday. They have been extremely vocal – almost like they are trying tell us something? Just a shock to see the nest so quickly dissipated. Also, within last few weeks 3 osprey deaths and one badly injured within about 2 mile radius. Central Fl on Banana rIver lagoon.
We have an osprey nest in our pole yard on top of a utility pole and platform that we erected a few years ago to keep them from the electrical wires. It’s been inhabited with 2 babies and mother. Unfortunately yesterday Mom flew into wires and was electrocuted. She did survive but was unable to fly so we called a rescue person who came and got her last night. She will be flown to a sanctuary on the Vancouver island today but we are now left with the dilemma of trying to keep the youngsters alive. We are, at the moment, trying to toss some chicken into the nest. I will bring fish tomorrow. I’ve asked the guys in the yard to keep an eye on them and see if they are leaving for long periods, hopefully getting their own food. I don’t want to hinder them providing for themselves but would like to know if you have any advice! The guys say they have seen them flying. Please help!
Can i band chick an I band osprey chicks if the nest in my yard
There are a pair of Osprey in our neighborhood. Each year they have had babies. This year, however, they didn’t and now they are gone from the next. Is this characteristic of these birds?
I have a situation that is very confusing! In Montana, there is a nest atop a crane in the Pioneer Log Homes yard. Olivia and Oscar are the couple, and Olivia had laid at least one egg. However, another female came and apparently won a fight for the nest. She has left the eggs alone, but now stands guard. The male has been coming in and brooding, but the two have not displayed any pair-bonding behavior (other than him bringing fish back and her chasing him away after taking it.
Just today, I saw what looked like another male come in and chase Oscar away. New male lands on the nest and immediately broods too!
Now, I am really confused! These birds are hard to tell apart, and now I believe that the intruder female (we call her Trudy) has a mate or suitor who is also frequenting the nest.
Eggs are non-viable, but still in tact so far.
Any sharp-eyed Osprey experts want to check this out and weigh in? I really wish I could tell who was who. Their behavior is fascinating.
Streaming video is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgojMBs5umg
The second male coming in can still be seen for another 3 hours or so, just scroll back.
Fellow Osprey lovers! My husband and I have been mesmerized by a live video cam of a nest of a young osprey family on Hog Island, Maine. We have been watching for just two days, however, and today’s feeing frequency (and appearance) by Papa has us concerned. For the past two days, Pap has brought fish to his mate and three chicks quite regularly- every 2-3 hours or so.
Today, however, he appeared and quickly disappeared from view early this morning and has not returned since (yes, we are indeed mesmerized). Mama has been calling out insistently but he has not returned all day.
Perhaps osprey chicks have heavy eating days followed by days of ‘growing”? Is it normal for the male not to have returned to the nest for over 7 hours? We are worried!
How fast can a osprey be in a swoop?
My question there was a nest with babies born when the parents left the next to defend it. The babies were left out in the heat and passed away leaving one egg.
So is it possible that the one egg will hatch. How long will mom & dad realize that they have no babies and leave the nest?
Do Ospreys feed their young regurgitated fish or only fish parts stripped at the nest?
Hello.
We had a Osprey pair nesting in a tall pine tree down the street from us, here in Central Florida.. For several months we have enjoyed watching them fish in the canal behind our home, and we could see them coming and going to their nest. A few days ago, one of their chicks was dead in the road.. presumably having fallen out of the nest. I have not seen the parents since. Would losing a chick cause the pair to leave…?
My wife and I are watching a single osprey, unaccompanied at all, bringing sticks to an established nest on a tall dead tree on the shore of a small manmade lagoon on Roanoke Island, NC. We assume it is an unattached male but we have no way to be sure. We have not seen two birds together at the site at any time. We have seen this activity sporadically over a 5 to 7 day period between May 16-21 while we are RVing nearby. What can you tell us about the behavior we are seeing?
My parents have had an Osprey nest for 13 years at their house on Innerarity Point, in Pensacola. Never once has the mom and dad Osprey ever thrown a baby out of the nest, but this time they did. Do you know why? We’ve even had cameras in the nest, but we know it was thrown out of the nest, not accidentally a fall; It was deliberate because of where the baby landed and how young the baby was.
After courting for a week or more, and starting to build nest, our pair of ospreys on our new stand have vanished.
What could of happened? They seemed to be settling in well but have not seen them for a few days. Stand is over water large creek on Chesapeake Bay.
Not sure why they are no longer around..
We live in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. There’s an Osprey nest on the transformer tower across the street. Last week, there were workers on the tower, that disturbed the nest, electrocuting the mama and on baby. The dad and brother were devastated. They came over to one of the boats at our marina, and cried all day. Since then, we’re down to one. He was crying again this morning. Is there anything we can do for him?
question… our 2 ospreys returned this year to their nest, but after about a week, they have moved down a few telephone poles where they are trying to build a new nest. they had started to fix up the old nest, but have abandoned it. we did notice a squirrel scare them last week when the ospreys were in the nest, and that was the last time we observed the ospreys in that nest. note that we aren’t watching the nest but for a few times a day, and aren’t sure that they didn’t come back to the nest after the squirrel observation we made.
any ideas on what would cause them to move only 200 feet away (assuming it wasn’t the squirrel) ?
We have had a pair every year since we built our platform. This year, however, their nest building is practically nonexistent. There is but a shallow remnant of last year’s nest at most, and they’ve been here a couple of weeks. They spend lots of time sitting on, and defending, the nest, but no time fetching sticks. Any thoughts or explanations?
I have just watched Osprey mate on the Loch Garten site, how long til she lays her eggs and then when can I expect the chicks to start hatching.
Thank you, Florence
My osprey pair returned and were quite content to start upgrading the nest in anticipation of hatching new chicks this season. However, a third osprey arrived about a week ago and appears to be a male because he’s been performing the aerial display. The other male chases him off but he’s persisting in courting the female of the pair. I just took a photo of one osprey sitting at the nest while another one flies off with a fish in it’s talons as another osprey flies in with a fish. Can you tell me a little about competing males and will the female stay loyal to her first mate?
We have Ospreys living in a nest in a tree in front of our home on the water. We see them flying to another nest about 200 yards away across the water. Why would they have 2 nests?
On a small unmanned island in the Long Island Sound there is a large guyed tower with some shorter tower round it a pair of Osprey have been nesting there for at least 6 years arriving in march and leaving in the late fall.
They usually have two or three chicks per year. Unfortunately late last fall I found one of the bird dead on the ground because the chicks were about 7 months old it’s hard to determine if it was one of the adults or a chick. They have not returned yet and I’m concerned it may have been one of the adults what do Ospreys do when they lose a long term mate?
I had a nesting pair of Osprey last year, here in Upstate NY. When should I expect them to return? Should I start watching now? I know they started the Hawk Watch in our area and the migrants have begun to return, so I am hoping they will be back soon!
while on vacation in Sarasota, FL early Feb, I noticed an Osprey nest. Frequently 1 Osprey would land on the head of the Osprey sitting in the nest. What’s up with that?!!
Our school is assisting in the building of an artificial osprey nesting structure and we need to know what height to make it, what materials they would prefer the structure to be made of and what would be a good design for the structure?
Please reply ASAP!
Thank you
Hello, I am photographing resident and migrating ospreys and bald eagles around an inlet in northeast Florida. The ospreys fish the extensive tidally influenced flats above the mouth of the inlet. I am trying to determine the optimum time or conditions to photograph them fishing, but have not discerned a consistent pattern based on time of day or tidal cycles, that is whether they tend to fish immediately after sunrise, mid-day or before sunset, or on tidal cycles such as high, low, ebbing or rising tides, where fish movement or water depth may influence fishing. Do you know of any sources of information associating such variables with osprey fishing patterns in marine environments?
Thanks, Ted Mikalsen
Jacksonville, FL
Do Ospreys feed at night? I live on a pond and have been hearing large splashes in the water at night that sound like the Ospreys that were fishing all summer here.
It’s early September in northwestern Wyoming and there appear to be two ospreys still in their nest…could this be…might they be transients using the nests as they proceed south?
Thank you!
i have a pair across the field, the male sits on a pole outside my balcony, we whistle bk n forth all the time, i havnt seen any babies this year, i have binoculers n witnessed the pair what looked like feeding something in the nest, ive been looking all summer for babies but have not seen any, when do the babies come out and fly, im frustrated that i havnt seen babies, me n daddy bird hang out all the time, i love him….i have a great connection wh animals, i want to see a babie….plz help me understand if they flew the coop or what, i only see mom n dad up there……..
We have had a family of Osprey on top of a satellite tower across the street from my office in Osceola (St. Joseph County, Indiana). I watch them with a scope set up in my window, and it appears two have been left behind for the last couple of days. They have been calling out as normal, but the others haven’t returned, and I’m not entirely sure that they can fly (they don’t leave the nest). Is it possible that the other 3 or 4 have migrated and left them behind?
If so, is there any rescue or protection for these falcons?
This comment will NOT be popular, I know, but I cannot STAND these birds. We live on the water and are nearly driven crazy every year by their incessant shrieking, whistling, chirping, and territorial bullying. I don’t know how they can keep up their high-pitched nonstop hollering for hours on end, but it goes on ALL DAY without cease. Horrible birds that can’t even be drowned out by earplugs, AC, or music!
when do parent osprey leave? Nice noticed 2 years running that the juveniles are left on their own for weeks or months before they migrate. It’s mid August here and our nest has only one juvenile in it; there s a second juvenile around but it is chased away from the nest. Is this usual? Seems like the parents needed to stick around longer to referrer.
Here in central Florida where we have lots of lakes, Ospreys can be seen on their nests starting around the end of February, and continuously until early August.
Does it take that long for Osprey hatchlings to grow and fledge?
There is an Osprey nest in a tall pine tree near our patio. For 2 or 3 years we have enjoyed them from their arrival until they departed floor migration. Everything was proceeding normally this year until mid July. All of a sudden they tore the nest apart and vanished. No sign of the adults or chicks. What’s that about? Have we lost this nest forever? What has happened to the 4 birds? Herb
We live in Old Saybrook Connecticut.
We built a platform several years ago and we have had a couple inhabit the nest but this is the first year that we have fledglings.The eggs hatched recently (first week in July)
We have just seen the fledgling’s heads pop-up in the nest.
How long before they start flying?
Thanks
Ray.
We live in Maupin, Oregon on the Deschutes River where we have ospreys coming back each year to a wonderful nest that the previous owners have built at. The ospreys have been coming here for years and years. We have had a terrible heatwave of 100 degree weather for 2 weeks and have watched the parents hover over the chicks all day trying to keep them cool, but a few days ago, we saw that the chicks were not moving and then the parents left the nest and buried the chicks in the nest. I have observed that they are now trying to make another next on a telephone pole, which won’t work because it is so small. What can I expect? Are they going to come back again next year? I say them sitting in the nest for hours after, just being there. It was so sad. We need to realize that this global warming is serious and we just saw “the canary in the coal mine” here!
I have a cottage at Chapman Lake in PA. Last night we spotted an adult osprey on a dock. while kayaking around 7:00P.M. It could move and open its wings, but did not fly away. It emitted no sounds. I was told that this same bird had landed on a beach earlier in the day. It did not leave the dock. Any ideas and suggestions? I did not check this morning.
Lots of info on osprey-cam page.
No obvious button to actually view birds.
We’ve been watching George and Gracie on the Osprey webcam. Of the 3 chicks one died. Mom just covered him with a piece of plastic bag. Is this normal? If not, what do the Odprey usually do with dead chicks. This mom seems to be a new mom.
As you may know, an eagle swooped in to the osprey nest at Hog Island maine last week and stole the chicks. Much sadness. While watching the nest today, mom was screeching, dad arrived with a big fish, she grabbed it away, screeched some more and then flew off with the fish. Is this normal? Seems though she could fish for her own? Is it still part of her parenting instinct?
Thank you for any info.
How do the adult osprey get water to their young chicks?
I live in Annapolis Maryland right next to an osprey nest. I was sitting on the beach in front of it when I heard a loud crash. I turn around and there is a juvenile osprey on the ground in fragmities. I went over, got it untangles and carried it to a flat spot in the shade. It seemed fine; no broken wings or visible wounds. However, it was not moving much and was twitching occasionally. I watched it for about 5 mins and it appeared to be recovering (looking around, moving some parts, etc.) and all of a sudden it just died. What could be the cause of this and why was it so sudden?
I watched a mother of 3 chicks on the cam and noticed her nonstop calling for 15 min.then dad came with fish ….after the feeding she continued anthem next day doing the same . Is she stressed
I want to thank Jane Fink for all of the info she posts, I’m partial to all raptors but have only seen Osprey and Bald Eagles in the wild. While visiting my daughter in North Idaho years ago I was able to watch one fishing in the river (Kootenai, I think) which ahs focused my attention on Osprey. Beautiful birds!!!!!
We have an osprey nest across the river. Babies are nearly full size and one spends most of its time out of the nest. However, the other one stays close to home and cries and cries. haven’t seen the parents for days. How long will the baby survive waiting for mom and dad? It obviously doesn’t know how to fish yet.
Every year hundreds of Ospreys migrate to southern Ontario for breeding. There are many man-made platforms where they build their nests. I observed for the first time a pair and their young babies last year in one such platforms by Lake Simcoe. This year I saw the parents (I presume that they are the same) coming back to the platform and started building nest and mating in the middle of April. Since then, every week-end I visit their nesting site hoping to see a baby or two popping their heads in the nest. Unfortunately I only see the parents continue mating to this date and often times both parents leave the nest for a prolonged period of time. This most likely means that she hasn’t laid any egg. How late they can be in laying egg? Is end of May already too late? Also, if there’s an egg or two in the nest will the female ever leave the nest? Or does she spend all her time tending the eggs?
Went out to feed my cats, and when I walked by my ladder leaning next to the house, I was surprised by a young osprey sitting on top of the ladder! My neighbors have an osprey nest set up and we always watch them every year. The young osprey keeps calling out, and can’t seem to fly for long periods of time. It just hops & flies a little from one tree top to another calling out. Will the parents help it or is it just left on its own now? It will surely die without assistance.
Do female osprey eat the shells of their eggs after the chicks hatch?
Hi. I have an osprey that spends a lot of time in a line tree in my yard. It has been killing other birds that fly into my yard. I find feathers all over my yard every day and this morning witnessed it plucking a bluejay. It also dives at my cat…. This does not seem like typical behavior- or is it?
Thanks!
A female osprey has laid 2 eggs and the male has not brought food nor been seen for couple of days. At what point will she leave the eggs unattended to feed herself? – Also worried that when eggs hatch they will not survive if she has to leave them to hunt
Hi,
We have recently seen three adult osprey occupying the same nest. Have you seen this behavior before?
Great information! Is there any data on how many young survive the first year out of a given number? Also, is there any data on how well the dads tend to them after the mom migrates?
One more question on consumption. We see alot of dissect fish. how does the osprey tear these fish apart — beak, talons, both? Assuming a 4-5 inch trout how long would this take?
Bill, our biologist Jane Fink says the chicks get fresh fish immediately. The adults tear tiny bits of fresh fish and delicately feed the young.
Having handled and observed many ospreys, it is clear the “fish hawk” bites and then twists with the beak. The talons are used to secure the slippery fish and anchor it. This is how the osprey manages its fish into smaller components. Many raptors remove the head of the prey item in times of plenty for caching and to ensure the item is dead. Entrails have differnet nutrients than say the bones do. The osprey often consumes the whole smaller fish, deriving important vitamins and minerals from different parts of the fish.
Larger fish with scales take more energy to consume and break down into managable parts. How much fish is consumed by the osprey depends on two main variables- the ambient temperature and the age of the bird. In times of cold weather raptors can double the amount of food intake-a mechanism to keep warm. Young growing raptors are full grown at six weeks of age and are capable of consuming TWICE what an adult osprey eats! Hence my previous emphasis on the phenomenal role the male osprey plays in just fishing for the growing family!
What will happen to mom and babies if dad doesn’t come back to nest after a few days. Will the mom go and try to fish leaving babies unprotected?
Randy
If the male dies will the female abandon the chicks?
I have Ospreys landing on the on the canvas top of the fly-bridge on my boat. They are
making a real mess. They are covering the boat with all types of debris and fish parts.
What can I do to stop them from returning? I have “gull-chasers” and already strung fishing line and streamers across the canvas, any ideas would be appreciated.
ospreys have made a nest on top of my chimney. The babies were born but they have come back. What can I do to remove the nest?
I believe that a small airplane hit the male osprey last night guarding the nesting female on a telephone pole on my land. Knowing that birds are relatively fragile, if he died, what will happen to the female who has been nesting for about three weeks? What should we?
I live on the Potomac River right close to the Chesapeake Bay. There was a nesting pair last year on my nest, but this year the nests around here are not paired. I have one sitting and calling, but no mate. Many nests are empty this year. Was the winter too cold? Rachel Schrote
We put a platform nest up in 2008, and this year we have our first osprey pair her on riverside state park on the Spokane river. They arrived April 17th and have been busy since, nest building,mating, now the female seems to be staying on the nest consistently. The birds have been named Mac and Ella after the first family to settle this little area of Rivermere at Seven mile.my question is in regard to setting up camera of course after they leave this fall. What is the best kind and what is approx cost? Thanks Laurie
I’ve been watching this osprey couple for a few months now, nesting and bringing fish to the nest, not sure how many chicks but the male osprey was killed and I was wondering if the female will be able to care and feed her chicks on her own now that the male will no longer return…..
Dear Jane,
Six years ago I had installed a web-site recommended constructed osprey platform in the canal in front of my cottage in the Outer Banks of NC. Once in a while over the years it would appear an osprey was interested in the platform but after a couple of landings, they never returned. Finally, last year a couple “courted” on the platform, coming and going frequently but never showing any serious nesting plans. This year, however, the couple , or another couple, showed up and started building a nest. I was thrilled. With the nest built, one stayed in it and the other came and went with twigs, food, etc. Then suddenly, maybe two or three weeks later, they both left. Is there an explanation for their sudden disappearance, i.e., is this normal, particularly if this was a first time young couple? If so, is there a chance they’ll return to the same nest next year? Thank you for any light you can shed of this mystery. Sincerely, Sandra Canepa, Hampton, VA and Kill Devil Hills, NC.
Fantastic information here thanks for sharing it. I have a man-made osprey nest in the marsh behind my house. This is our second summer experiencing these awesome birds. Last summer (2012) our nest had 4 babies and it would seem that one or more of those babies came back this year. In April the parents tried to chase them off to the nest on the other side of the marsh, but this last month weve seen 3-4 adult osprey in the nest plus the daddy on the separate pole in front of the nest. Is this typically for the babies to come home and invade the nest so that no new babies are born that year?
I work for a small non-profit environmental group and we own an island on Cape Cod that is prime nesting habitat for coastal shorebirds. We have a very healthy Osprey population and it seems to grow larger every year. My question is that one of our members stated that he saw on 3 different occasions, an osprey take a plover chick and feed on it. It flew back to the nest and fed it to the young. Can this be true? I thought they fed primarily on fish.
Flying and mastering the art of making it back to the nest come first, then after several weeks of successful flights, hunting attempts will occur. Unitl then the little osprey wlill retrun to the nest for feedings. The sex of the osprey is unknown. Only about 80% of females sport a necklace and in the end size matters. The females are often larger than the males and the determinant factor is weight. Best guess is to note whether the youngster is closer in size to the respective parent bird. At 6 weeks of age the youngster is mostly full grown and will sport its youthful orange eye for 2 years to come.
Can you tell by looking at Baby O in the Sandpoint nest whether it is male or female. I’m betting on female but others think male. Thank you
Hi Jane,
We were chatting and have the following questions. Do the chicks leave the nest before or at the time of the fall migration (do they travel as a family the first year?)? Like salmon do they have ingrained annual migratory routes that they use from birth? Do they come back to area they were hatched? When do they take a mate? If they mated for life, what happens to widows/widowers?
Thanks, Bill
The number of eggs laid by a pair of osprey is often influenced by weather and food supply. If the season yields a particularly abundant source of fish and warmer weather a larger number of eggs will be produced. Enjoy watching your fish hawks!
Another question… How old are the chicks when they first start making noise (ie chirping, plaintive cry, etc.)? The other osprey nest in Colorado, we can hear a chirping sound and also a plaintive cry but the female’s mouth is not moving and the chick is not visible. Could the sound be coming from the chick that is about 2 weeks old? Very curious about these osprey!
I still have HOPE for the first egg that was laid, although I know it is probably not viable. My first question is what will they do with the unhatched egg? My second question regards the recent times that the eggs have been left alone – will that be a problem for the 2nd egg? Can they survive without being sat on for short periods of time?
Thanks for the quick response to questions!!! Now that we understand how the osprey catch their fish, can you comment about how they consume them?? You’re already noted that the chicks will be started off with ripped up pieces of fish flesh. From watching feeding in the nest, I’ve noticed this: 1) seems like only the bottom of the fish is delivered; 2) the entrails are the first eaten; 3) female spits out bones or scales? 4) both sexes seem to “burp up” and re-swallow after eating; and 5) I’ve seen her swallow a large section of tail several times. So, do the osprey eat the entire fish — head, scales, bones, etc? Let’s say they’re catching 4-5 inch trout — how many fish does an adult and chick each eat per day? Thanks!!!!!!
The osprey, like most day active hunters, relies mostly on sight to hunt. Osprey do not hunt at night, but rather are “diurnal hunters” like eagles, hawks, and falcons. Osprey differ from the other raptors in that they have a dislocatable shoulder, reversible toes, underwater vision, waterproof feathers, and velcro like pads on their feet. Their most unique feature is their ability to put their feet where their vision initialy saw the fish underwater. The osprey dives feet first into the water at speeds over 30 miles per hour!
Regarding your question about “catch rate”, osprey do not catch a fish on every dive. They adjust to the conditions, and undoubtably conditions like waves or cloudy or muddy water do affect their success rate. They have overcome all of these conditions for millions of years, and continue to thrive!
Hi, just wondering what senses make the Osprey such a good fisher. Is it vision, sound, scent, etc?? I’m wondering how they fish at night or when its wavy on the lake. Does their catch rate decrease during these times??? Thanks, love the site and info provided!
I have been recording and taking pictures through a telescope “our” Osprey on Osprey Lane and Whiskey Jack Circle for 8 years.
Every other year it seems, we have a chance for two baby Osprey being hatched. Is there
any knowledge of when you can expect three as we have had three four years ago. We called it a real wonder and they had a very devoted mom.
We had a veterinary neighbor who helped me with a fallen Osprey after it hit a live wire and damaged it’s wing. The Osprey was nursed to good health and let go several weeks later. It returned the following year. It has a tag we identify it by.
Thanks so much for all your information. I’m having my grandchildren in MAINE follow the Osprey on the web cam. What a teaching lesson for them.
So do the chicks start feeding with digested material from the parents or do they start on fish flesh right away?
Hi, I am currently at a boat marina looking at boats to buy I am currently out of my home state, and there is a pair of ospreys here nesting in a marine travel lift. I am worried that they will be successful in building the nest but the travel lift will need to be used eventually. What will happen if the ospreys lay their eggs but then the travel lift has to be used? Is there anything I can I do to help them?
Thanks for all this excellent information. Ospreys are my favorite bird and I have the pleasure of seeing them every day as First Mate aboard the Shawnodese in the Spring, Summer, & Fall. In the Winter, I live in Mulege’, on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. We have an abundant population of ospreys here. I have observed them here from December through May and believe that they do not migrate. I am told by local Mexicans that they are here year round. I am seeing them actively nest building right now. Is this unusual to have non-migratory ospreys? When I first moved here, I used to imagine that the ospreys I saw everyday might be the ones we observe on the Rail Bridge in Sandpoint, but alas, not the case.
Thanks again…