Nurture
06/07/09
Meanwhile while we last checked on the nest ..... ;-) The chicks are thriving!! The oldest have lost most of their down and are starting to look more like little birds than prehistoric hatchlings.
The third chick is growing nicely! Ma Osprey was feeding the "baby" when I arrived. While the food supply is abundant there was always a possibility that the 3rd chick might not survive due to natures law. Looks like we'll be watching 3 chicks fledge. :-)
In the spring there was female Osprey who tried to take over the nest - pre-egg laying- well that female is still around and was very bold Sunday.
Out in the harbor - I saw her hover above an existing nest with two adult and two chicks. Later she did her fly by Ma's nest. I only have theories, but wonder if she is a recently sexually mature Osprey - as in she was a chick and this is her first migration back? Or..... she lost her mate this year.
**The migrating Osprey population - chicks do not return to nesting areas until they are sexually mature or at least 2 or 3 years old according to documentation. The Osprey chicks spend their first year at their migration grounds. While I have no proof of where the Osprey in my nest come from..... it is believed that Osprey in this area migrate to South America. Of course , Ma and Pops could have very well just been vacationing in Florida too. :-)
RT @FriendsofBNWRVirginia utility workers rescue osprey tangled up in fishing line: hamptonroads.com/2009/06/linemen-scale-power-tower-untang...
Nurture
06/07/09
Meanwhile while we last checked on the nest ..... ;-) The chicks are thriving!! The oldest have lost most of their down and are starting to look more like little birds than prehistoric hatchlings.
The third chick is growing nicely! Ma Osprey was feeding the "baby" when I arrived. While the food supply is abundant there was always a possibility that the 3rd chick might not survive due to natures law. Looks like we'll be watching 3 chicks fledge. :-)
In the spring there was female Osprey who tried to take over the nest - pre-egg laying- well that female is still around and was very bold Sunday.
Out in the harbor - I saw her hover above an existing nest with two adult and two chicks. Later she did her fly by Ma's nest. I only have theories, but wonder if she is a recently sexually mature Osprey - as in she was a chick and this is her first migration back? Or..... she lost her mate this year.
**The migrating Osprey population - chicks do not return to nesting areas until they are sexually mature or at least 2 or 3 years old according to documentation. The Osprey chicks spend their first year at their migration grounds. While I have no proof of where the Osprey in my nest come from..... it is believed that Osprey in this area migrate to South America. Of course , Ma and Pops could have very well just been vacationing in Florida too. :-)
RT @FriendsofBNWRVirginia utility workers rescue osprey tangled up in fishing line: hamptonroads.com/2009/06/linemen-scale-power-tower-untang...