In August, the osprey chick aggressively defended the nest at Middle Farms and continued to hone vital skills.
By mid August, the osprey spent less time on the nest and during feeding times usually only stayed briefly. They could more often be heard nearby and the chick returned to the camera nightly to keep watch over the nest. It increasingly defended the nest during the day from other juvenile osprey – and from the parents if they did not bring fish.
The parents stopped bringing nesting materials but continued to help to defend the nest and provide fish daily. The number of nest feeding times decreased so it is uncertain if the chick received meals nearby or if it began to learn to fish. During some visits, the chick began to practice gathering nesting materials, though it is unknown where it took them.
The osprey chick defends the nest on August 10th, 2023.
The video clips below capture some of the nest activities from August 7 through August 21, 2023.
AUGUST 7, 2023: Dad delivers fish and the chick takes it away from nest to eat.
AUGUST 7, 2023: Mom arrives late and places her order.
AUGUST 7, 2023: Dad brings left-overs for mom.
AUGUST 7, 2023: In the evening, mom brings left-overs for the osprey chick.
AUGUST 8, 2023: The osprey chick defends the nest.
AUGUST 8, 2023: During the first nest feeding of the day, the chick grabs dad’s leg by mistake.
AUGUST 8, 2023: The osprey chick gathers nest material.
AUGUST 8, 2023: The chick prevents another osprey from landing on the nest.
AUGUST 8, 2023: The osprey chick defends the nest with mom helping from the camera above.
AUGUST 10, 2023: Mom defends the nest during a longer than usual visit.
AUGUST 10, 2023: Another juvenile osprey lands on the nest and gets swatted off.
AUGUST 10, 2023: The osprey chick gathers more nest material.
AUGUST 10, 2023: The chick battles one of the adults for the osprey nest and gets chased off in the end.
AUGUST 26, 2023: An adult osprey returns to the nest.
AUGUST 11, 2023: The adult osprey continue to bring fish to the chick at the nest daily.
AUGUST 12, 2023: Mom delivers leftovers.
AUGUST 14, 2023: The osprey chick leaves with nest material, then lands on the camera soon after.
AUGUST 14, 2023: Adult osprey fight for the nest.
AUGUST 14, 2023: The osprey chick makes plenty of room for dad to deliver a fresh fish.
AUGUST 15, 2023: The osprey chick continues honing tearing skills.
AUGUST 16, 2023: The osprey chick lowers from camera to receive the early morning feeding.
AUGUST 16, 2023: The osprey chick continues to practice gathering sticks and other nest materials.
AUGUST 16, 2023: The osprey chick defends the nest and chases the intruder.
AUGUST 16, 2023: Evening fish delivery.
AUGUST 17, 2023: More practice gathering nest materials.
AUGUST 17, 2023: While the osprey are away, sparrows visit the nest and gather nest materials.
AUGUST 18, 2023: The osprey chick prevents another osprey from landing on the nest.
AUGUST 19, 2023: Another juvenile osprey visits the nest.
AUGUST 19, 2023: The other juvenile stops by the nest briefly with a fish.
AUGUST 20, 2023: The chick lowers from the camera to receive another fresh fish delivery.
AUGUST 20, 2023: The osprey chick appears wet and shakes off during a visit to the nest. Perhaps learning to fish has begun.
AUGUST 20, 2023: The chick prevents one of the adults from landing on the nest.
AUGUST 21, 2023: The chick arrives with dad for the early morning feeding.
AUGUST 21, 2023: Mom brings leftovers for the chick and leaves the nest. The chick follows soon after.
