The non-resident female (NRF18-2) spent hours on the nest and cam platform today. This is her third day in the area. At one point, she took off, possibly after a goose (video below). The resident female often dives on geese both on Cattail Pond and other nearby bodies of water.
The Boulder County cam op also treated us to a close-up view of this beauty. (video below)
Video: Listen 10 seconds after she takes off. There is an Osprey call and then a goose squawk.
We were treated to another cam close-up of the male Northern Flicker drumming on the cam platform, this time with a prospective mate watching!
Overall a quiet day on the nest (apart from the flicker’s drumming). Only one raven visited, late in the afternoon, and single starlings a few times. A non-resident female (Female18-2) had the longest stay yet of a little over 30 minutes on the nest and another (at least) two hour stint on the cam platform. Videos below.
At 5:48pm she was spotted by a ground observer (JJ) near Izaak Walton Pond, the only Osprey spotted anywhere in the area. It’s still early in the season, and she may well be the only returnee at this point. We expect to see activity pick up by this time next week!
Female18-1 (excerpt of her visit)
Northern Flicker and his prospective mate.
Raven
The Boulder County cam operator treated us with a close-up view of the Northern Flicker that’s been hammering on the cam pole. Video below.
The ravens made several visits in the morning hours foraging for sticks. At one point, one of them brought two sticks to the nest, left them, and departed with a “better” stick. Clever birds! Video below.
A non-resident female Osprey, possibly Female18-1, spent about ten minutes standing on the nest today (no housekeeping), and no other Ospreys were seen or heard. Video below.
The non-resident female visited the nest three time in the morning, one time driving off a raven. Video below.
The ravens were on the nest about a half dozen times, sorting through nest materials and taking sticks. Video below. A ground observer spotted them building a nest in the rafters of the Boulder County Fairgrounds grandstand. Those smart birdies know where to shop for pre-selected sticks!
A pair of ravens decided the nest was a treasure trove of nesting materials both in the morning and afternoon. After picking through the dried grass clumps and rails, they made off with some choice sticks. 2 videos below.
Ravens will predate eggs and young chicks, but in previous years, the adult Ospreys have been enough of a formidable deterrent and kept them away from the nest and off camera.
A little later a Northern Flicker vocalized and hammered on the cam pole, and then, at 8:54am, Female18-1 (from yesterday) arrived on the nest for a visit of a little over 20 minutes, and she made another appearance in the afternoon for a closeup video! Audio and 2 videos below.
AUDIO: Northern Flicker hammering on cam pole.
VIDEO x 2: Ravens
VIDEO: Excerpt of visit by Female18-1
VIDEO: Closeup of Female18-1
At about 4:36pm nest time, a female osprey flew from the cam platform to the nest. She hung out for about 10 minutes before flying off to Izaac Walton pond for a fish dinner (as reported by ground observer, JJ). [Female 18-1] Video below.
Last year, the first bird (also a female) visited on the 13th and 15th. She came back on the 20th and played house with the resident male until the resident female arrived on the 25th.
In the past 3 years, the male has arrived on March 29 (2015), March 20 (2016), and March 19 (2017). It won’t be long now!
This morning, a Northern Flicker hammered on the perches for a while, then flew to the cam pole for more hammering. It even shook the pole. Video below.
VIDEO: Female18-1 visits.
VIDEO: Northern Flicker hammering.
VIDEO: At 3:28pm nest time, a Bald Eagle brought a fish to the nest and consumed it in under 3 minutes. It hung out for a few minutes before flying off.
VIDEO: Boulder County removed hazardous materials from the nest (twine, netting, etc.) and replaced the IR lighting system.
(Video at double speed.)
VIDEO: A pair of Red-tailed Hawks visited the nest and took the opportunity to mate on the front perch. This is the first (known) time a pair of hawks has spent time on the nest. As of March 9, they haven’t been spotted again.
