Osprey Update July 31st
The osprey chick took its first flight away from the nest on July 22, 2024.
It is with great sadness that we have to report that two of the osprey chicks did not survive at our Middle Farms nest this year. The littlest chick passed on July 22nd due to lack of food and as a result of ongoing brutal attacks by the middle chick – who was also not getting enough food much of the time either. Both chicks appeared to have stunted growth while the first chick in the pecking order developed much more rapidly. It usually came back for seconds during feedings while the middle chick was busy attacking the little one. By the third week of July, mom had started to provide fish in addition to dad, and it was hopeful that the middle chick might overcome the initial lack of food, but after a couple more days of not getting enough to eat, it succumbed to the effects of lack of nutrition on July 25th.
The first chick to hatch had a significant advantage and has made great progress in July. She was learning to tend the nest, began to self-feed, and took her first flight from the nest on July 22nd. On July 24th, she successfully defended the nest from another juvenile osprey who made several attempts to land!
On July 28th the chick appeared wet when she returned to the nest and may have made an attempt to fish, but mom and dad continued to deliver fish multiple times a day.
The video clips below captured some of the nest activity from July 2 through July 31.
JULY 2, 2024. While the siblings rest, the littlest chick begs for fish.
JULY 2, 2024. After all are fed, mom leaves the nest briefly and the chicks watch her return.
JULY 2, 2024. The #1 osprey chick learns to tend the nest.
JULY 2, 2024. Mom delivers seaweed for the nest.
JULY 3, 2024. Littlest osprey chick tends nest and begs for fish.
JULY 4, 2024. Mom delivers bark to the nest.
JULY 4, 2024. The biggest osprey chick tests its wings.
JULY 7, 2024. After both chicks eat, they watch a little bird on the camera.
JULY 8, 2024. The biggest chick tests it wings.
JULY 8, 2024. The osprey chicks do some nest tending.
JULY 9, 2024. The biggest chick tends does some nest tending and preening.
JULY 9, 2024. Mom defends the nest during a feeding and gets some help from dad.
JULY 9, 2024. Mom gets pecked during nest tending.
JULY 10, 2024. Chicks looking up at mom who chirps from the camera.
JULY 10, 2024. Hanging with mom and preening.
JULY 10, 2024. Biggest osprey chick tests its wings.
JULY 11, 2024. Dad delivers fish while mom is away and the chicks try to self-feed.
JULY 11, 2024. The smaller chick tries to get some fish, but ends up getting pecked instead.
JULY 11, 2024. Mom lands with another fish and the big chick tries to get that one too, so the smaller chick attacks but gets a hard peck in return.
JULY 11, 2024. After both fish are done, the smaller chick is still hungry and tries to challenge the pecking order.
JULY 12, 2024. After a wing workout, the big osprey chick comes back for seconds.
JULY 15, 2024. Mom defends the nest and provides shade for the chicks.
JULY 15, 2024. The osprey chick catches air.
JULY 15, 2024. The chicks hanging together.
JULY 15, 2024. Mom provides a fresh fish for lunch.
JULY 16, 2024. Dad delivers fish while mom is feeding, so the big chick gets to self-feed.
JULY 16, 2024. Windy days are great for wing workouts.
JULY 16, 2024. The big chick leapfrogs over the smaller chick.
JULY 17, 2024. Dad delivers fish while mom is away, but since the smaller chick is unable to self-feed, it has to wait.
JULY 17, 2024. Mom provides a second fish, so both chicks get full.
JULY 17, 2024. Mom provides grass for the nest.
JULY 17, 2024. The smaller chick beds down on the new grass.
JULY 18, 2024. Chicks cocking heads looking beyond nest, then dad delivers fish. The big chick lets the smaller one get first bites.
JULY 18, 2024. The chicks hit the deck while mom defends the nest.
JULY 18, 2024. The osprey chick flies across the nest.
JULY 18, 2024. After bringing a small stick to the nest, mom leaves briefly and surfs in on larger piece of bark.
JULY 19, 2024. The smaller chick tests its wings.
JULY 19, 2024. After the others are done, the big chick snags the tail.
JULY 20, 2024. The big chick gets a wing workout while mom gathers seaweed for the nest.
JULY 20, 2024. Mom nestles the chicks to make sure the smaller one keeps warm.
JULY 20, 2024. Both chicks test their wings.
JULY 21, 2024. Mom provides fresh fish.
JULY 21, 2024. Testing wings and preening.
JULY 21, 2024. Mom gathers leaves for the nest.
JULY 21, 2024. Mom provides a coyote warning.
JULY 22, 2024. Mom gets pecked during nest tending.
JULY 22, 2024. The big osprey chick takes its first flight away from the nest!
JULY 22, 2024. Sounds like the chick landed on the camera.
JULY 22, 2024. Mom provides a big stick for the nest.
JULY 22, 2024. The chick returns to the nest but the smaller chick is not happy about it.
JULY 22, 2024. While mom feeds chicks, dad lands with more fish but then leaves with it.
JULY 23, 2024. The big chick steals the fish and almost knocks mom off the nest in the process.
JULY 23, 2024. After the fish gets snagged on seaweed, the smaller chick gets a turn to self-feed.
JULY 23, 2024. The osprey chick lands on the telephone wire during a brief trip away from the nest.
JULY 23, 2024. Another attempt to land on the wire.
JULY 23, 2024. The big chick attempts a telephone pole landing then gets attacked again upon returning to the nest.
JULY 23, 2024. After another attack, the big chick fights back harder.
JULY 24, 2024. The big chick has to dodge more sibling attacks while defending the nest from another juvenile trying to land on the nest several times.
JULY 28, 2024. Dad delivers fish and mom initially gets it but the chick battles her for it and eventually wins.
JULY 28, 2024. Mom delivers another fish in the afternoon but leaves twice before the chick lowers to the nest to retrieve it.
JULY 30, 2024. The wet osprey chick lands and shakes off – may have been trying to fish.
JULY 30, 2024. The osprey chick appears wet again and is followed by dad and mom – who each have fish!
JULY 30, 2024. In this extended clip, Mom and the chick are on nearby poles when another juvenile lands on nest. Mom stops eating to defend the nest but the invader tries to get her fish. The chick returns to the nest also and the drama goes on for a while before the invader finally leaves. Mom chases after it, then returns and lets the chick have her fish.
JULY 30, 2024. In the beginning of this clip, the osprey chick is on the camera and mom is on the nest. The chick leaves to chase after two birds on a nearby pole but mom leaves also and she ends up following mom instead. Soon after the chick returns to battle with the birds and mom ends up helping from above. Eventually mom returns to camera and calls the chick back.
JULY 31, 2024. After a night on the nearby poles, the osprey chick can be heard squawking at mom, who eventually leaves and the chick returns to the camera.
JULY 31, 2024. In the beginning of this clip, you can hear the chick squawking in the distance and mom responds. Eventually the chick joins her on the nest.
JULY 31, 2024. During a light rain, mom delivers fish then flies up to camera to defend the chick while she eats.
JULY 31, 2024. Dad delivers fish for the osprey chick while mom watches from the camera.
