Before Dusk
An Osprey, male Perched on a Communications Tower
We observed and photographed an Osprey pair on May 4, May 24, June 2, 9, 11, 12, 18, 29 and July 25, with observation times of two hours during each period, ending shortly before nightfall. On June 11, 2022, we observed both Osprey parents in the nest, which included the male having provided a fish. However, on June 12, 2022, we saw only the female in the nest during the entire two hours. On each of the previous dates of observation, we watched as the male flew from the distance with a fish in its talons. After dropping the food into the nest, he would sit on the tower preening, then settle into the nest with her at dusk. We never saw any nestlings, but initially presumed they were still too small and hoped that by mid-July we would see them.
On June 12, 2022, the temperature was 74 F, then came the brutal, record-breaking heatwave with temperatures reaching over 100 F for nearly a week, followed by high 90's! We worried about how the Ospreys would fare. Sadly, we never saw either of the adult Ospreys after June 12, 2022. Osprey nesting failures are attributed to a number of factors, including eggs not being viable, chicks not receiving enough food, which is also how they obtain the required water they must have to avoid dehydration, receiving contaminated food, aerial predation by owls, crows, or hawks, and falling from the nest or being pushed out by a sibling. Additionally, extreme fluctuations in weather conditions certainly play a tremendous role in nest failure. Any of these conditions could have caused them to abandon their nest.
This Osprey pair may still be relatively new at parenting, so despite some early nesting failures, if they are the same pair and both make it back from their migration next spring, studies indicate they exhibit site fidelity and will try again.
With all of the environmental conditions they will face, all we can do is hope for the best. I will be looking for them next year!
Before Dusk
An Osprey, male Perched on a Communications Tower
We observed and photographed an Osprey pair on May 4, May 24, June 2, 9, 11, 12, 18, 29 and July 25, with observation times of two hours during each period, ending shortly before nightfall. On June 11, 2022, we observed both Osprey parents in the nest, which included the male having provided a fish. However, on June 12, 2022, we saw only the female in the nest during the entire two hours. On each of the previous dates of observation, we watched as the male flew from the distance with a fish in its talons. After dropping the food into the nest, he would sit on the tower preening, then settle into the nest with her at dusk. We never saw any nestlings, but initially presumed they were still too small and hoped that by mid-July we would see them.
On June 12, 2022, the temperature was 74 F, then came the brutal, record-breaking heatwave with temperatures reaching over 100 F for nearly a week, followed by high 90's! We worried about how the Ospreys would fare. Sadly, we never saw either of the adult Ospreys after June 12, 2022. Osprey nesting failures are attributed to a number of factors, including eggs not being viable, chicks not receiving enough food, which is also how they obtain the required water they must have to avoid dehydration, receiving contaminated food, aerial predation by owls, crows, or hawks, and falling from the nest or being pushed out by a sibling. Additionally, extreme fluctuations in weather conditions certainly play a tremendous role in nest failure. Any of these conditions could have caused them to abandon their nest.
This Osprey pair may still be relatively new at parenting, so despite some early nesting failures, if they are the same pair and both make it back from their migration next spring, studies indicate they exhibit site fidelity and will try again.
With all of the environmental conditions they will face, all we can do is hope for the best. I will be looking for them next year!