April 2019 – OSPREY NOTES

April 16, 2019April 16, 2019

Tuesday, April 16: A quiet day

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Notes

This was another peaceful day, with one large fish shared and very light intruder activity. Bark and a few sticks were brought in, but no plastic. There were two mating attempts, the first aborted before much contact, and the second an intermediate variety. A good day for our Osprey family. 🙂

There was some speculation in chat about why the clutch size was three this year rather than four, including about whether it was due to mom’s age or the nest size, etc. Speculation is great! That’s often how we discover aspects to observe in future. However, it helps to speculate from a solid foundation.

The most common number of eggs for migrating North American Ospreys is three. (Non-migrating pairs in subtropical areas often lay two.) Only 10-20% lay four–and that doesn’t mean a given female lays four every single year. We’re accustomed to mom laying four because she’s done so for the past four years. But in 2014, there were three eggs laid and three fledges. In 2013, all we know is that at least one egg was laid and there was one fledge. Given we have no signs of issues with mom, three eggs isn’t an indicator of a problem or aging–it’s Osprey-normal.

As for nest size, the bowl isn’t significantly smaller than what they have had in the past (though a touch cluttered on the left), and isn’t small by Osprey standards. See the image comparison between 2018 and 2019 below. Particularly, use dad’s beak and wing tip as points of reference.

Then, check out this link and scroll down to see a pic four healthy youngsters on a small nest. (The nest is down inside the basket.)

Images and Videos

The Day in Images

Jigsaw Puzzle

Click here to go to puzzle page!

06:16 Mom and dad ready for a great day.

06:53 Dad tells the kids the story of the big fish they’ll catch one day.

07:41 Dad lands with more bark, their favorite nesting item!

And a tug of war ensues. It is their favorite!

Mom keeps a close eye on the stick dad brought in. She has been whacked in the head many a time!

Tag, you’re it! (and aborted mating attempt)

Dinner is served! (This was the only fish today, but it’s a large one).

Mom heads for the cam platform with the last bit of fish.

Mom on the rail while dad tends the eggs.

Good night, mom. Good night, dad. Good night, little ones!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

Monday, April 15: Three eggs and done!

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Notes

DATES AND STATS | WHAT TO EXPECT

With the clutch apparently complete at three, our Osprey pair is moving from courtship, breeding, and laying time into the incubation period, usually the quietest and most peaceful time of the season. The first egg is due to hatch mid-May, giving mom and dad a month to feast and rest as much as possible before the busy busy busy summer months.

Today was typical of what can be expected in the upcoming weeks, barring the unforeseen: plenty of fish, an intruder or two, and lots and lots of sitting on the eggs!

Mating attempts: Three (all with mom non-receptive)

Fish: Two. Large, shared.

Intruders: Light activity, with only one passing close briefly.

Nest building: Activity was very light, with bark, a grassy clump, and a small stick brought in.

Note: Though a fourth egg is still technically possible, time-wise, it’s highly unlikely. (But she’s been full of surprises this year!)

Images and Videos

The Day in Images

Jigsaw Puzzle

Click here to go to the puzzle page!

06:46 A Blue Jay stopped by to see dad for a moment. Dad was not impressed.

06:46 Mom brought in bark. Dad seemed more impressed by this.

06:47 Bark stowed, mom takes a break on the rail and contemplates taking over egg duty.

07:01 An intruder made a couple of close passes and mom and dad told him he was not welcome, not now, not ever.

08:41 She really really wants dad to feed her . . .

08:44 . . . but this time, she has to do it herself.

11:25 Mom strides toward the eggs while dad plans his exit.

15:24 Mom looks like she’s floating, and indeed she is!

Good night, mom! Good night, dad. Good night, one-two-three!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 14, 2019September 6, 2019

Sunday, April 14

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Notes (brief)

DATES AND STATS

Eggs: If there’s to be a fourth egg, it’s due sometime between late night and morning.

Fish: 3 shared.

Intruders: Light intruder activity on several occasions in the morning and early afternoon.

Nesting materials: Only natural materials were brought in.

Mating: 3 (one intermediate receptivity, two non-receptive)

There had been some questions in chat about the different mating behaviors we’ve seen. Below is a video that shows the main two–receptive and non-receptive–plus a couple of examples of intermediate receptivity.

Though the general behaviors are broadly representative, the specifics in the video relate to this pair. Individual couples will have their own styles influenced by experience, depth of pair bond, and individual instinct, but a version of responsive (tipping) and non-responsive (not-tipping) behavior will be found with each pair.

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 13, 2019April 13, 2019

Saturday, April 13: Changeable Colorado weather and stalwart parents

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

Notes

DATES AND STATS | WHAT TO EXPECT

Weather Forecast: April 12
Partly Cloudy. High 49F. Low 28F. Winds light and variable.

Snow began after dark and by midnight mom and the nest were blanketed. The night was quiet with the first changing of the egg guard at 05:51 with dad taking over from mom, and the snow gradually melted away over the course of the morning. The sun even came out!

There was light intruder activity during the morning on several occasions with dad returning to the nest to warn off a trespassing Osprey or two. None were spotted on cam, but dad’s increased call intensity suggested there was a close pass or two. He gave guard calls twice in the afternoon, but only briefly. Also, Jenny spotted him from the ground, in the air with an intruder over Rodgers Grove.

Dad brought in half of a large fish for mom, the first of the day, just before noon; she took it off the nest to eat, and he took the opportunity to settle in on the eggs. They shared a second large fish in the late afternoon. No one went hungry today!

There was a single mating today, with mom slow to tip forward, though she didn’t refuse outright. Those hormones are waning!

Apart from brief intervals while switching places, the eggs were incubated continuously. The nest cup is now well lined with shredded bark, though the plastic is under it around the edges. Dad brought in one small piece of plastic, but otherwise, natural materials, thankfully.

Another good day for this Osprey family!

Images and Videos

The Day in Images

Jigsaw Puzzle: Mom landing (April 12)

06:51 Mom and dad just before changing over.

06:53 Dad is taking off and mom is eyeing her clutch.

07:51 Mom is settled on the nest with only a small bit of plastic peeking through the snow.

07:52 I spoke too soon about plastic! Here, dad brings in another piece. At least it’s small.

07:52 He didn’t tuck the plastic away, just abandoned it on the rail.

08:20 Dad warns off an intruder during one of the several alerts this morning.

10:03 Dad took off in a hurry from the perch.

10:04 . . . to get a very important branch!

11:57 First fish of the day! Half of a large one.

11:57 While mom get a good grip on the fish, and before dad settles in, the eggs are in clear view. (Left to right: #2, #1, #3)

17:32 Second shared fish of the day delivered for mom.

18:10 It’s never too late in the day to bring in a stick and step on mom.

20:00 Mom is on the perch considering moving in for a night on the eggs.

20:02 It only took her a couple of minutes to switch places and settle!

Good night, mom. Good night, dad. Good night, little ones!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

April 12, 2019April 13, 2019

Friday, April 12: Egg #3 is here!

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

Notes

DATES AND STATS | WHAT TO EXPECT

Weather Forecast
Overnight: Partly Cloudy. Low 23F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
April 12: Mostly Cloudy. High 43F. Low 27F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 0

After a quiet night through the wee hours, mom laid egg #3 at 03:40 and was back to brooding and snoozing quickly. Good job, mom! If there is an egg #4 (which is likely, based on the mating pattern), it should arrive late Sunday or early Monday.

Unlike yesterday, intruder activity was extremely light in the morning and early afternoon, with only one brief incident of guard calls. This supports the possibility of the intruders yesterday being Ospreys passing through on migration north. Mom flew in at one point and gave (non-Osprey) alarm calls about something on the ground or in the east pond, but there was no on-cam indication of what it might have been.

Lots and lots of bark has been brought in today, along with a few sticks, making the nest bowl look much more comfy than it did before.

Mom had a large fish all to herself, and dad ate one off nest, as evidenced by the nub of remains he dropped in with.

All in all, a wonderful first day in the world for egg #3 and a couple of very special parents.

Images and Videos

The Day in Images

Mom lays egg #3

Jigsaw Puzzle: Dad feeding mom (April 11)

Click here to go to the jigsaw puzzle page.

06:21 Dad comes in to check the new arrival for the first time.

07:02 A Blue Jay pops in to check on dad . . . and grab a snack.

07:30 A peek at the eggs. (#3 is the red-brown one on the left.)

08:07 This stick led to some antics which wrangled dad some egg time.

10:21 Mom swoops on a goose again.

10:44 A flock of Red-wing blackbirds wheels by while mom naps.

At 14:02, dad nudged mom off the eggs and took over. She came back twenty minutes later with a big stick and his quality time with the “kids” was over! 😀

15:52 Dad brings in a big, whole fish for mom.

15:53 Mom took the fish and headed off the nest with it for a dinner break.

16:13 Mom returned with the fish tail, and gave alarm calls about something on the ground or in the east pond. She soon settled down and finished the fish on the rail.

17:49 Dad apparently had a meal away from the nest and brought in a leftover fish nugget. Mom wasn’t interested (after the large fish she had all to herself), so dad took the nugget away shortly thereafter. At least he tried to share!

18:57 Dad brought in some mulchy stuff (technical term). 😀

19:30 Dad watches mom after she moved to the cam platform.

Good night, mom. Good night, dad. Good night, little eggs three! 🙂

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019

Thursday, April 11: Snow can’t stop these two!

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

Notes

DATES AND STATS | WHAT TO EXPECT

Weather Forecast
Cloudy. High 46F. Low 23F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 5

It was a snowy, but uneventful night. Two large fish were shared, with both mom and dad having their fill. After dad brought in the second one, he fed mom little bites while she was on the eggs, one of my favorite pair-bonding behaviors! Mom accepted for about eight minutes, then decided she wanted the fish to herself and took it off-nest.

There was a lot of intruder activity from morning through early afternoon, with dad returning to the nest frequently to give guard calls, though no on-cam appearances of any hooligan Ospreys. Previous days have had light activity, so perhaps there are some new “faces” in the neighborhood, possibly Ospreys passing through on their way to northern breeding grounds.

As of 20:30, dad is on the perch and mom is snuggled down over the eggs, and a brisk wind is blowing. Egg #3 is due overnight, likely before midnight based on the laying intervals from previous years. We’ll see!

Images and Videos

The Day in Images

Jigsaw Puzzle

00:18 Mom takes a brief break and flight.

01:37 Mom closes her eyes for a moment during an otherwise vigilant night.

09:41 Dad has a look at the eggs in the midst of an intruder alert.

09:50 Dad lands on mom with a stick. She doesn’t flinch!

09:54 Dad taking off after bringing in the stick.

11:01 Dad watches the skies and warns off an intruder.

12:10 Dad tells yet another intruder to go away.

12:18 Mom shredded some bark. 🙂

At 12:28, dad swooped on a goose, then returned to the perch.

12:53 Stick time for dad and break time for mom!

14:25 Dad brought in a stick and did some nestorations.

15:25 Another stick on top of mom, but she is still unfazed.

15:41 Ground Report | Jenny: Mom is on the south perch.

19:03 Dad brought in a second fish and fed mom bites as she incubated the eggs. One of my favorite pair-bonding behaviors!

19:37 Getting ready for the night. A few minutes after this, mom moved to the nest and dad to the perch.

Good night, mom. Goodnight, dad. Good night, eggs!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019

Wednesday, April 10: A winter storm moves in

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

The Day in Images

Video silliness: (Almost) ready for lovin’

Video: Shortly before midnight, dad decided to try some nighttime mating. It didn’t work out as expected!

Notes

DATES AND STATS | WHAT TO EXPECT

Weather Forecast
Rain to Snow/Wind. High near 40F. Low 27FWinds NNE at 25 to 35 mph.

Egg #3 is due on Thursday evening or wee hours of Friday morning or thereabouts.

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 6

The wind picked up during the night, carrying away one piece of plastic that had been attached to the outside of the far rail at 02:41, and it seemed to spook mom a bit.

She left the nest at 02:42, and after a game of musical perches, stayed on the perch, and dad went to the nest (02:48) to incubate the eggs–a very unusual occurrence at night. Maybe the gusting wind had something to do with it.

04:21 Another attempt that went . . . sideways. 😀

Around 8am, we got some nice close ups of the eggs.

08:03 Mom and the eggs. (#1 in the back)

Late morning, the first of the winter storm began to move through, beginning with rain and sleet. Overnight through tomorrow, snow and high winds are forecast.

12:32 Dad in rain which will soon turn to snow.

15:20 Dad brought in a fish, but when mom didn’t go for it immediately, off he went with it.

15:47 Dad returns with the now fish nugget.

15:48 This time mom doesn’t let it slip away.

15:49 Dad get his turn with the eggs while mom has her fishy snack.

16:14 Mom is back. She waited patiently for dad to move, and he didn’t. She had to pace around the nest to get him to budge!

17:05 Mom takes a short break on the rail, seemingly interested in something on the ground for a few minutes.

Mom and dad weathered the snowy and blustery day with experience and dedication, continuing on with nesting duties despite the adverse conditions. Tomorrow night we’ll likely welcome the third egg to the clutch. How time flies! Here’s hoping for an uneventful night. Goodnight, mom. Good night, dad. Good night, little eggs!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 9, 2019April 9, 2019

Tuesday, April 9: Egg #2!

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

The Day in Images

Notes

Weather Forecast
Partly Cloudy. High 67F. Low near 40F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Egg #2 arrived at 04:27. Egg #3 is expected Thursday evening or thereabouts. See the DATES AND STATS page for specifics on the laying interval.

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 6

Fish: 3

Mom was off the egg/s until she laid the second one at 4:27am. She had a restless night from midnight until laying and seemed to be distracted by the plastic over the nest cup. She went to the center at 00:37, but only stayed five minutes and didn’t tend the egg of accomplish the task of moving the plastic. She looked ready to lay, with feathers raising and lowering, but she returned to the perch.

At 03:09, mom encountered an obstacle in the form of a twiggy branch hung up in the plastic. When she left the nest at 00:43, she had accidentally flipped that branch from the left rail over onto the plastic. When she returned at 3:09, it was a problem for her. She remained on the side of the nest until lay time.

Mom spots a spider . . .

After four restless hours, mom finally cleared the space over the nest cup and laid egg #2 at 04:27!

Once the drama of egg-laying was done, mom and dad settled in for a peaceful morning.

In the early afternoon, an intruder dared venture into dad’s sky while he was on the eggs. Some guard calls and fierce shaking of wings took care of the issue. Go, dad!

No intruder wants to mess with this dad.

15:44 was fish time.

17:26 Ground Report | Jenny: Dad just flew to the south perch with a fish.

At 18:57, dad landed right on mom with a stick. Ah, the good times! 😀

You’re going to poke someone’s eye out! 😀

After the ordeal of laying, the day was a mostly quiet and bountifully fishful. Incubation will likely continue to be intermittent, though we may see longer intervals of on-the-eggs time now that the second has been laid. Egg nu

There is a storm system moving in tomorrow that will be dropping snow. Once that starts, they’ll keep the eggs covered; they have a lot of experience brooding in snow and inclement weather.

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 8, 2019September 6, 2019

Monday, April 8

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

The Day in Images

Notes

Sunrise: 06:38 Sunset: 19:28

Weather Forecast
Mostly Cloudy. High around 75F. Low 45F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 7

Egg #1 was laid at 09:15 on April 6. Egg #2 is due after midnight.

It was a quiet night with about three hours forty minutes on the egg and seven hours twenty minutes off between 7pm and 6am.

Mom was first off the perch this morning, and when dad went in to tend the egg, he got tangled in a strip of the white plastic for about five minutes, but freed himself. After a change of duty, he brought in the morning fish at 08:15.

Dad was tangled in plastic for about five minutes.

But he finally got to settle down for some quality egg time.

A little stretch before going off duty! (07:48)

Mom napping while brooding . . . or is it brooding while napping? (07:53)

No more napping when there is a whole, fresh fish in sight. (08:15)

Yummy! And off the nest she went with it. (08:15)

Mom was back in about fifteen minutes to resume egg duty, and only took one short break.

(10:40) Mom has a flap-and-stretch constitutional in the wind . . .

. . . and a short break on the rail. Looking good! (10:40)

At 10:47, dad brought in a big, headless fish, but mom wasn’t interested, likely still satiated from the whole fish earlier.

(10:47) Dad brings in a tasty fish . . .

. . .but something over there is more interesting to mom than fish . . .

11:18 Mom swooped on poor papa goose four times!

11:25-28 Both gave guard calls and watched the sky. Intruder Osprey in the area! (It was never seen on cam.)

12:45 Dad was standing over the egg, saw something, gave a non-Osprey alarm call, and flew off. Mom came in shortly thereafter, followed by dad, then dad was off again. (Could have been the eagle again.)

Dad and his egg right before he flew off to chase a non-Osprey intruder.

13:47 Dad brought in a twiggy branch or roots.

14:53-58 Mom moved the plastic stip a little and gave a good view of the egg and grass/hay-lined cup.

At a little after three, the cam zoomed to the nest bowl in anticipation of egg number two overnight.

“I can’t believe one of those fish-gorging monsters is going to come out of that little thing.”

A Common Grackle stops by for a neighborly visit.

The saga off this dry fish will be told tomorrow!

Dad takes care of the home-front while mom is off eating.

The day wound down peacefully, and mom and dad took to the perches to roost. If mom follows her timing from previous years, she will lay egg #2 between midnight and four. We have to wait to see if she sticks to her norm or surprises us. 🙂 Good night, mom! Good night, dad! Good night, egg!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019

Sunday, April 7: A windy, but peaceful, day

MAY ARCHIVES | APRIL ARCHIVES | MARCH ARCHIVES

Sunrise: 06:33 Sunset: 19:31

Weather Forecast
Partly Cloudy. High 72F. Low 43F. SE winds shifting to SW at 10 to 15 mph.

EGGS: Egg #1 was laid on April 6 at 09:15.

The Day in Images

Notes

Today’s on-cam mating tally: 12

The night was quiet. Between 9pm and 6:30am, mom was on the egg for approximately two-and-a-half hours and off seven, including a stretch of over five hours after midnight. This is normal on the first night, and sometimes the next few nights after laying the first egg. The intermittent incubation slow developments, an adaptation that results in smaller age gaps between siblings.

Dad was off at 05:56 after mating. Mom headed for the nest to tend and brood the egg. It was a business as usual early morning.

At 06:32, dad brought in more plastic. It was a smallish piece that blew around the nest and finally got hung up on the far rail (and out of the nest bowl).

Mom: “Black plastic is sooooo last week.”

06:54 Mom was on the cam platform, and a male Red-winged Blackbird was on the left perch proclaiming his right to rule the territory. Mom had a different view of it and chased him off, talons at the ready!

08:23 Dad delivered a nice wriggly fish breakfast.

08:43 Dad was with the egg as mom landed on the perch.

09:05 Dad arrived with algae booties again.

09:14 Dad and his algae feet moved in to mate, but mom was not receptive (maintained horizontal body position rather than tipping forward).

11:06 Dad swooped off the left perch to fish (just off cam), circled around and headed south. He later brought half the fish to mom.

14:51 Dad brought in a large headless fish for mom (not the one from the video above, a new one), but she wasn’t interested, so he took it away again a few minutes later.

“Really, I only had one teensy nibble . . .”

“C’mon . . . look at me! I have a mostly headless fish!”

The afternoon was quite windy, making mating a challenge!

The afternoon and early evening were filled with normal happenings: a few sticks, fish, tending the egg, mating, and goose-swooping (See The Day in Images video!). As of 9pm, both mom and dad are on the perches and the egg is visible in the IR light. Here’s hoping for another good day tomorrow. Good night, mom, Good night, dad. Good night, little egg #1!

Be sure to visit the Boulder County Osprey Cam chat for the latest information and interaction.

For notes with videos from previous days visit the archives.

Videos