Yadkin Osprey Nest

One chick was spotted in the nest early this morning before the sun came up. Then around breakfast time the other two chicks arrived and waited for breakfast. Without the white feather markings, it would be difficult to distinguish the chicks from the parents. The chicks are starting to get the hang of pulling fish apart, but are still having trouble with the catfish because of their tough skin.

Yesterday afternoon six ospreys were spotted flying together over the Narrows dam. We could not tell if they were juveniles or a mix with mature ospreys. It is very hot today and the weekend temperatures are going to be over 100 degrees.
 

Who else got a laugh yesterday watching one of the chicks trying to eat a small catfish, with little success? Mom got tired of watching the struggle, so she took the fish and fed it to him. Oliveea is in the nest now by herself.  Perhaps waiting for her youngsters to come home to visit?

I have noticed that a few other ospreys (3-4 years old) have chosen new areas for next year nesting and are bringing in sticks. I guess that may be why we see Oscar bring new sticks to this nesting site quite often. We are going to install more nesting boxes in the next few weeks to persuade them to establish areas where the least human interference would be. We try to accommodate nesting locations that the Ospreys have chosen but sometimes we do make slight adjustments for their safety and ours!

Our chicks demonstrated their flying techniques this morning. Two of them were playing tag above the dam. I had to stop walking across the bridge and watch as our babies played in the cool morning air. They are such beautiful birds. I think everyone out there agrees that they have been a joy to watch these last few months. We will miss them greatly when they fly south.

We spotted three (possibly four) other osprey chicks that hatched from nearby nesting sites. We are blessed!!

End of week temperatures are supposed to get over 100 degrees in the afternoon. It’s a good thing our chicks will be able to find shade in the trees. They can also cool off by catching fish in the lake. Practice makes perfect!

Oliveea and her chicks were in the nest this morning waiting for breakfast. Oscar brought in a fish and the triplets all wanted it at once. Oliveea watched as one of the chicks ate and then it seemed she was trying to get the chick to share with the others! I am so proud of Oliveea. This is the first year she has raised triplets and she has done a great job!

Empty nest

It looks like our last chick has fledged! The trio will return to the nest, as it provides a safe, familiar place to rest (and eat). Oliveea will contine to provide the fish until her young master the art of fishing. Fledged ospreys have been known to catch fish as early as 74 days after hatching. They learn to hunt mostly by watching their siblings.

In response to some of your comments, the spider webs on the camera lens will be cleaned off later in the year after the ospreys leave the area.

And then there was one...

Our last chick was exercising quite a bit this morning and got off the nest a foot or so. It won’t be long before the last baby takes flight and joins its siblings.

In addition to this family, I have seen other juvenile ospreys flying around the area practicing their flying skills. Next skill to learn will be fishing!

What do Osprey chicks do for fun?

Why sit on a fake owl head of course! This was way too cute not to share. The fake owl is located at the top of our crane boom and the view is fantastic. The chick would get the impression that he/she is sitting on top of the world! Two of the chicks have fledged, but I have not seen all three out of the nest at the same time. Have any of you?

Safe and sound

Rest assured the third chick is safe and sound, flying around with other young ospreys that just fledged in the area. I also saw the young chick sitting on a crane boom (beside a fake owl) close by. This morning the young chick was back in the nest with its siblings when Oscar and Oliveea came to visit. You can all sleep well knowing that this young chick is safe and enjoying its new found freedom! We will keep the nest and site monitored very closely during this time as the young venture out for their first flights.

A chick has fledged!

It is official, one of our chicks fledged!! We knew it was only a matter of time as practice flights across the nest were taking place last week. Over the weekend one chick was brave enough to leave the nest. Even as the chicks take to the skies, they will still return home from time to time. Oliveea will welcome them and may even provide a meal or two. I am certain all our moms out there can relate to that. Even when we are old enough to be out on our own, mom still wants to take care of us!
 

It won't be long!

Our baby chicks are gathering up their strength for their first flights. How exciting to watch our chicks prepare to conquer the sky! Yesterday one took practice flights across the nest, flapping wings with such gusto we thought we were going to see our first fledge! They are also perching on the edge of the nest more. It won’t be long now. Am I the only one nervous with anticipation watching our babies during these early attempts?

How adorable watching the chicks taking turns feeding. Oscar brought in the mid-morning snack and as Oliveea was feeding one chick the others were patiently waiting their turn. One of the chicks managed to take a nibble before she started feeding them though. I started laughing out loud as Oliveea and a chick seemed to be having a tug of war game with the fish tail! Oliveea left the nest and came back a few minutes later with ANOTHER fish - no wonder the babies are growing so fast.

It’s supposed to be another warm sunny day with less humidity. Thanks for all the comments - keep them coming!!

Our Ospreys enjoyed a beautiful warm breezy day. I was able to grab a photo of Oliveea and her three chicks looking out at the Narrows dam. After her young fledge (about 2 months old), they may return to the nest for feeding and roosting for another week.

Did you know that as an osprey matures, their eye color changes from red to orange to yellow?

Our babies are getting HUGE!! I watched them this morning eating, taking naps, and stretching their wings. It still amazes me that just a few short weeks ago they were little baby chicks! Oliveea does not stay in the nest as often as she once had, but I'm sure she doesn't venture too far away from her babies. Just a little while ago, one of the chicks was standing on the edge of the nest looking brave. The chick started flapping its wings like it was practicing for its first flight, all the while I was holding my breath not knowing if it was going to fall out of the nest or fledge!

We apologize for the technical difficulties. They have been resolved and we are back up and running. We appreciate your patience.

The osprey chicks are about 6 weeks old now. They are getting bigger each day and will soon be flying!  Here are some earlier photos of our osprey family.  Enjoy!

   

I have been working hard this morning trying to get a family photo of the ospreys. They have been very active today wiggling around and flapping their wings.

Oscar decided to pick up a large stick on his way back home this morning. It was comical watching them rearrange the sticks with all five in the nest. Not much room for major construction.