Osprey Blog

The first confirmed sighting of a male osprey from the Museum webcam was on March 26, 2024. A male osprey landed on the nest at Middle Farms during the morning of March 26, 2024. The Museum received a report by Richard Marshall of a male osprey sighting at Middle Farms

The first confirmed sighting of an osprey from the Museum webcam was on March 20, 2024. A female osprey lands on the nest at Middle Farms during the early afternoon of March 20, 2024. The Museum received reports of osprey sightings at the Middle Farms nest from March 20th and

The last confirmed sighting of osprey from the Museum webcam was September 13, 2023. The osprey chick getting ready to leave the nest with a fish in its claw on September 10, 2023. The daily fish deliveries grew fewer at Middle Farms nest during the second week of September,

From late August through the first week of September, the osprey chick continued calls for fish at Middle Farms nest. During a couple visits to the nest over these two weeks, the osprey chick appeared to be wet but it is unknown if it succeeded in catching any fish on its own.

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

On July 29th, approximately 58 days after hatching from the egg, the osprey chick fully fledged and took its first flight away from the nest at Middle Farms. In the days leading up to its first flight, the fledgling continued to develop stronger skills for flying, along with skills for eating and

In the ten days since the two younger osprey chicks passed, the mother fiercely defended her remaining chick as it continued to develop and practice feeding and flying skills. Though it may have appeared that the the chick was alone on Middle Farms nest a good portion of the day and night,

This post was initially compiled as a progress report on nest tending - not only by the mother osprey but also by the chicks learning to use their beaks for more than pecking, but tragically both younger chicks have since passed away. On July 5th, 2023 the youngest chick passed away –

As the osprey chicks grew stronger mid-June, the battle for the pecking order grew. Initially the two older chicks fought each other, but when the littlest one got bigger (and hungrier), it received the brunt of the attacks. The following video clips capture some of the battles from June 15, 2023 - June 26,

During the first week after the third egg hatched at Middle Farms, mom and dad osprey continued their efforts to tend and defend the nest. The feedings increased significantly and the chicks grew stronger each day. The following video clips and images capture some of the nest activity from June 7, 2023 - June