Wonderful images Pat. What state is this in if I may ask?
That looks like a huge natural nest they have built. How high is it? It's interesting Dad brought a whole fish (head and all) into the nest. I've seen him do this when the offspring are old enough to fly and take off with it when it's delivered.
Usually though the head is bit off before it's brought into the nest, at least that is my experience with only one Osprey nest I have observed for three years now.
I hope all three chicks make it. Please keep the updates coming.
Great Osprey photos, Pat! Exquisite fish shot. The three chicks with open beaks is surely a winner! How were you able to get eye level shots of the nest? I just obtained the Rebel XT1i and am on the learning curve. Can you take HD movies with you camera? I also use the Gitzo tripod.
deedee4re wrote:
Wonderful images Pat. What state is this in if I may ask?
That looks like a huge natural nest they have built. How high is it? It's interesting Dad brought a whole fish (head and all) into the nest. I've seen him do this when the offspring are old enough to fly and take off with it when it's delivered.
Usually though the head is bit off before it's brought into the nest, at least that is my experience with only one Osprey nest I have observed for three years now.
I hope all three chicks make it. Please keep the updates coming.
We have some more data DeeDee. By observing nests around the country maybe we can come up with a definitive answer to the behavioral fishing and transport action.
I would say that is accurate and it makes sense about the larger fish heads missing vs. smaller fish. I will go back and look at my pics for the last three years to see if that fits.
Down here in Southern California, the Osprey mated in January and the Babies fledged starting in mid May. I will view my pics and look at when I can see both parents leave the nest for the first time after they have been trading off sitting on the eggs. Mom does this more than Dad, but then she takes off, flies, takes a bath to take a breather. She has to stay fit for when they babies come and then she has to feed them all the time.
You've probably watched Mom squawk at Dad when she needs something. It's pretty funny to watch. Dad is trying to take a quick nap and Mom starts in on him. First he opens one eye, then the other and after a few minutes off he goes to get more nesting material or fish.
Before the babies learn to poop out of the nest, I've seen Mom's wing feathers white. She then goes and bathes.
Now is when it gets fun. They start taking twigs from the nest to practice as if they are carrying fish. They take baths right on the shore or practice their diving techniques right from the shore to the water.
Then there's the sibling rivalry squawking about who gets to eat the fish that Dad brings first.
I'd love to see more pics of this kind of activity if you have time to observe them. You'll love it!
Those eyes and tongues are wild!
