Middle Farms Nest Update June 2026
Mom with three chicks under grackle attack June 6, 2026.
We have sad news from the Middle Farms osprey nest–two of the three hatchlings did not make it. These things unfortunately occur in nature, but we were cautiously optimistic after learning from Vicki Rafferty that the third chick hatched on May 31st. Review of the video back-ups confirmed it had happened before daybreak and by the end of that first day, it was already eating fish. The first and second chick had a big head-start though and began to establish the pecking order. The little one was always last to eat and did not always get full.
During this time, the osprey parents endured relentless attacks by grackle who shared the Middle Farms nest, and the two bigger chicks had some knock-down battles that sometimes included the little one. The second chick proved to be a worthy adversary of the 1st chick–who started most of the battles, and on the morning of June 7th it is believed that the 1st chick passed (possibly from a combination of hunger and injuries caused by the battles). If more fish had been available the other two may have thrived together because the battles stopped that day. But, the fish supply remained limited and the littlest one passed on June 9th. While it is tough to lose two of our hatchlings after two had successfully fledged last year, we will continue cheering for the remaining chick and look forward to watching it grow.
We also have a remarkable and happy milestone to celebrate in light of the constant grackle attacks. One of the shared nest’s residents—a grackle chick raised below our ospreys—successfully took its first flight on June 8th and fledged the nest!
Grackle chick took its first flight on June 8, 2026.
The video clips below capture some of the nest activities during this ebb and flow of the natural world around us.
MAY 31: Osprey mom gets up for an early morning break and an eggshell confirms the third chick hatched before daybreak.
MAY 31: During the morning feeding we can see three osprey chicks!
JUNE 3: The first chick pecks the smaller chicks and the second chick tries to fight back but the biggest chick wins this battle.
JUNE 3: A peaceful moment with the three osprey chicks as the sun sets.
JUNE 5: Osprey mom feeding the three chicks.
JUNE 5: Osprey dad retrieves the fish remains after the chicks eat.
JUNE 5: What starts as playful biting turns into another brawl and mom gets attacked by grackle.
JUNE 5: Another osprey chick fight and grackle attack on mom.
JUNE 5: Later in the day, another grackle attack on mom and the osprey chicks battle.
JUNE 6: Three osprey chicks hang out while mom is away from the nest. Mom returns under grackle attack.
JUNE 7: Mom feeds the two remaining osprey chicks while under attack by grackles.
JUNE 8: In this extended clip, a grackle chick climbs up the nest and mom initially tries to scare it away but then tolerates it and endures grackle attacks. After about 14 minutes, the grackle chick takes its first flight!
JUNE 10: The remaining chick hangs with mom.
