The Surviving Osprey Chick Faces Challenges at the Middle Farms Nest in June 2026.
Mom is about to feed the osprey chick the fish dad delivered on the foggy morning of June 29th.
Although the grackle attacks ended shortly after the young grackle fledged from the Middle Farms nest, and there was no longer competition for food after the loss of its two siblings, the surviving osprey chick continued to face significant challenges throughout the rest of June.
For much of the month, dad typically delivered only one fish each day—often not enough to feed both mom and the rapidly growing chick. On some days, it appeared that mom left the nest to encourage dad to bring another meal. By June 16, the chick seemed so weak that it could barely get up to eat. Fortunately, dad delivered a second fish later that day, and the chick found the strength to feed.
Beginning around June 18, dad’s fishing success improved dramatically. He regularly brought two fish each day, and sometimes even three. With a more reliable food supply, the chick quickly regained strength, and its outlook became increasingly promising.
Another challenge arrived on June 22, when steady rain developed into a prolonged overnight storm. For reasons that remain unknown, mom left the chick unattended for several hours during the night. Until then, she had rarely left the chick alone for more than a few minutes—and never overnight. By the morning of June 23, the chick appeared weak and hypothermic, unable to lift its head or get up to eat. Mom consumed the first fish dad delivered alone that day, raising more concern about the chick’s condition. Thankfully, after it warmed up on the nest and dad brought a second fish later that day, the determined youngster found the strength to sit up and take a few bites. From there, the chick slowly continued to recover and grow stronger.
By the end of June, the chick’s greatest challenges had become much more ordinary: continuing to try to avoid accidental bumps from mom as she brought fresh nesting material and tended to the nest—a welcome sign of how far the resilient young osprey had come.
The video clips below capture some of the nest activities during this challenging time for the osprey chick.
JUNE 11: Osprey mom tracks down dad to make sure he delivers a 2nd fish today.
JUNE 12: Mom feeds the hungry osprey chick.
JUNE 12: The osprey chick shows mom that it can lift some wood!
JUNE 12: After finishing the fish, mom tends the nest and calls for more fish – while the chick rests.
JUNE 12: Osprey mom and chick enjoy the sea breeze.
JUNE 12: After mom invades its space, the osprey chick shows its frustration by pecking itself and trying to attack mom – then stumbles into the nest and struggles to right itself!
JUNE 12: The osprey chick tries to dodge mom and a stick during nest tending.
JUNE 13: The osprey chick was resting peacefully in mom’s shade – until mom had to defend the nest.
JUNE 13: The osprey mom defends the nest – while under attack from her chick. Then things calm down . . . for a while.
JUNE 13: The osprey chick throws a temper tantrum after getting bumped by mom during another nest tending.
JUNE 13: The osprey mom prevents another osprey from landing, then the chick tries to peck her.
JUNE 13: Dad returns for fish remains – but mom and chick are still hungry – and angry.
JUNE 14: Osprey mom returns with nest material and the chick throws another tantrum but eventually calms down.
JUNE 14: The osprey chick is already thinking of flying! Tries to flap wings and preens.
JUNE 14: A sparrow visits the nest and takes an osprey feather – then soon returns for another look around.
JUNE 14: The osprey chick stumbles again – but manages to get back up before mom returns.
JUNE 15: The hungry osprey chick practices biting and twisting wood.
JUNE 16: The osprey chick was too weak and missed the morning feeding but found the strength during the 2nd feeding today.
JUNE 17: After the chick is fed and falls asleep, dad returns for fish remains, but mom is reluctant to give them up.
JUNE 17: The osprey mom defends the nest.
JUNE 18: The osprey chick practices tearing sticks.
JUNE 18: The osprey chick nips at moms beak.
JUNE 18: The osprey chick preening.
JUNE 18: The osprey mom delivers a stick and tends the nest – then nestles the chick again.
JUNE 19: During this feeding, the osprey chick comes back for seconds after resting a bit.
JUNE 19: The osprey chick hangs near mom and looks beyond the nest.
JUNE 19: The osprey chick moves to check out the other side with mom.
JUNE 19: Sparrows fly by the nest and can be heard nearby while mom rests, then she suddenly leaves is distress. Soon after the chick watches her return.
JUNE 19: Mom watches over the osprey chick as it bites and lifts pieces of wood.
JUNE 19: The osprey chick tends a piece of grass.
JUNE 19: While mom is briefly away, the osprey chick lifts wood and preens.
JUNE 19: Osprey dad delivers a late night fish.
JUNE 20: Osprey mom resting just after midnight while nestling her chick.
JUNE 20: Osprey dad delivers morning fish and the chick eats well.
JUNE 20: The osprey mom stretches her wing – and ends up waking the chick from a nap.
JUNE 20: The hungry osprey chick gets upset when mom returns with nest material instead of fish.
JUNE 20: The osprey chick helps mom defend the nest.
JUNE 21: The osprey mom chases dad down for fish – and lets him know he needs to bring more! He eventually brings three today!
JUNE 21: Mom delivers stick and invades the chicks space – meltdown!
JUNE 21: Mom gets ready to receive another fish and is not happy when dad delivers seagrass instead.
JUNE 21: The chick and mom hang out before sunset.
JUNE 21: After another late feeding and short break on the perch, mom nestles the chick for the night.
JUNE 22: While mom is distracted, the hungry osprey chick tries to get some fish.
JUNE 22: The osprey mom delivers grass and tends the nest while the chick rests.
JUNE 22: Mom returns with nest material and osprey chick gets up and hangs with her.
JUNE 22: The osprey chick tries to flap its wings.
JUNE 23: After being left in the heavy rain much of the night – the sickly chick has trouble even lifting its head to preen. It did not eat during the morning feeding.
JUNE 23: We were relieved to see the osprey chick up and eating some fish at the second feeding of the day.
JUNE 23: The osprey chick started to bounce back and was preening later in the afternoon.
JUNE 24: After only one feeding the day before, the osprey chick is ready for fish!
JUNE 24: After mom and chick fed on a very large fish for more than four hours – dad returns for leftovers.
JUNE 25: The osprey chick looks beyond the nest.
JUNE 25: Osprey mom delivers a huge piece of bark for the nest!
JUNE 26: The osprey chick gets bumped again while mom tends the nest – and warns her to be careful!
JUNE 27: Osprey dad visits the nest briefly – then leaves and returns with a stick and tends.
JUNE 27: The osprey chick dodges sticks during another nest tending by mom.
JUNE 27: Dad delivers a huge clump of seagrass – and gets pecked by the chick.
JUNE 27: The osprey chick checks out the new nest material while mom stretches her wings.
JUNE 27: A very cool fly-in by mom, who surfs the nest with some bark.
JUNE 27: The osprey chick helps defend the nest.
JUNE 29: Mom nestles a sleeping chick on this foggy morning until she thinks she sees dad coming with fish – but he’s not coming yet.
JUNE 29: Osprey dad delivers a “started” fish.
JUNE 29: After watching mom fly back to the nest, the osprey chick tries to flap its wings.
JUNE 29: Osprey chick watches mom tend the nest – then tends a stick.
JUNE 30: Osprey chick and mom hang out on nest – then she flies to the nearby pole and the chick rests.
JUNE 30: With a full crop and mom standing guard, the osprey chick tends some new greenery before bedding down on it.
JUNE 30: While the osprey chick is sleeping, mom checks out the camera and is startled by wind blowing a stick off the nest.
JUNE 30: The osprey mom takes a break and stretches her legs while the chick sleeps comfortably in the nest.
