Chicks are getting big and now stay on top of the nest most of the day. Looking forward to to their first flight in 3 to 4 weeks.

Very nice shot in #1, that is a good looking trout for lunch! What a cool pose with those juvi's in #2 Those eyes and tongues are wild!

Karl

Those look like three healthy Osprey chicks ready to take on the world.

Dad better be a good fisherman to keep that family going.

# 2 is my top pick as well.

Lil

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.

DeeDee

Great shots and thanks for the update. The juvi lineup with in sync tongues is terrific!

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.

GENE

First shot is great. And I can see why you included the crop, very strange pose.

Rob

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.

DeeDee

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.

GENE

Hi Gene,

Yes, I agree. These forums are more valuable than just viewing some great images!!

Happy 4th!

DeeDee

Fine captures Pat, thanks for sharing.

Dave

I've been tracking 4 nests this year. The nests are at Jones Beach, OR., Puget Island, WA., Vancouver, WA., and Skamania, WA.
I have tried to locate nests that are near eye level, by finding a shooting spot on a hill, or dike area. I have been real lucky with the nest locations this year. I have spotted over 25 nests with in 75 miles of my home in Vancouver, WA.

I keep lots of notes, as I'll visit a nest and spend the whole day observing the Osprey. Patience is the the keyword.

I plan on putting together a website soon to pass on my observations I have experienced. It is under construction now. http://www.digitalpat.net/

Here is the some info I got from the Birds of Oregon, A General Reference Guide. By David B. Marshall. This is a great book for detail information on all birds.

Osprey eggs are laid between 23 Apr and 8 May (mean 30Apr).

Males share the incubation of eggs.

Eggs hatch in about 38 days, and after hatch the female remains in almost constant attendance brooding the young for the first 30 days, while the male provides all the fish for female and young.

An Osprey pair raising two young consume about 375 lbs of fish durning breading season.

The male spends non-hunting time perched nearby.

Young make first flights at 50-55 days.

What I have observed is the male returns about every two hours with fish.

Larger fish have the head removed, smaller are whole.

After he delivers dinner, he hangs out at the nest for a few minutes then takes off. When he leaves, he will usually fly close to the water and drag his feet in the water. I assume he is cleaning his claws.

The young, like the parents, have very good bathroom etiquette. It is comical watching a chick getting face down in the nest, near the edge of nest, with rear end in the air to go to the bathroom.

Here is the family from yesterday at the Vancouver nest.

Wonderful images and information Pat.

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.

Anyway, thank you again. This is GREAT info!!

DeeDee

The chicks are now young adults and started flying from the nest on Thursday.

A week ago Monday they started testing their wings and getting good elevation in the nest.

What was interesting, was on Tue and Wed this week, they just sat on the edge of the nest and just stared at the water.

Two of them did real good on their first flights, but the third one did not get enough elevation on his landing, and crashed into the pylon. Not hurt and on the next attempt, landed ok.



Pat DiGeronimo wrote:
Chicks are getting big and now stay on top of the nest most of the day. Looking forward to to their first flight in 3 to 4 weeks.

Some really great captures

Beautiful Images!! Thanks for the update.

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!

Cheers,

DeeDee