Here it is September 20. Most of our Ospreys have headed south. I did see a few last weekend as my earlier post says. Yesterday I received an email from one of our private property owners who is hosting a nest on her property. She expressed her concern that one chick had been "left behind", as she was just seeing the one juvenile, flying around and crying. I explained to her that Ospreys do not migrate as a family unit, but rather they head south individually. At some point, all young Ospreys must become independent. However, usually those intrepid males do stick around to feed the youngsters who linger and beg for food. I also suspected if the youngster was vocalizing a lot, it was probably food begging which typically is a response to seeing someone who they think can feed them. None the less, in spite of having many other things I should have been doing today, I always prefer watching Ospreys to almost anything else in life! So I went out to check out the "situation". This nest is in a particularly lovely setting, so I hiked out on this early fall day with my scope and tripod over my shoulder. I snuck up to the nest and saw the chick perched on the nest edge. I actually heard her before I saw her.....quietly food begging. I wanted to get a good view without disturbing her. I always try to observe without affecting behaviors so I can assess what is actually happening. So I headed away from the nest on a far trail to observe from a longer distance. My scope always makes up for the distance. As I hiked away from the nest tho, she saw me, followed me and flew over my head giving an alarm call.....just to let me know that she saw me! I kept moving further away from the nest and she turned away and I set up my scope. She flew high over the territory and disappeared behind some trees. I waited. For a long time. But such a beautiful day, I used this time to decompress from life.....listening to the crickets, the rustling of dry leaves, watching a few leaves drifting down, listening to the other birds, redtail, blue jay, crow. She finally returned to the nest
and began food begging tho all my scans of nearby trees and the sky revealed no adult osprey. I got to examine her visually.....her crop was empty, but she definitely had some belly fat reserves....no sharp keel, bones well padded. Her nares had no salt around them so she was well hydrated. Her flight had been strong and controlled. All good signs indicating excellent health. I thought about how beautiful this osprey looked against the gold leaves behind her. Take it in. Remember it all, let my senses drink in this beauty...no other people, just peace and quiet. I need that so much. Sometimes I think I enjoy being alone with these birds a little too much! Anyway, she suddenly started food begging loudly and flew off behind some trees and I lost her, so I hiked in a different direction where I might be able to see her secret perch away from the nest. I walked, scanned, but could not locate her. I had now been out here for over two hours. I knew she looked well, but still was determined to figure out the whole story. So again, I waited. Listened. Watched. Finally I hear that desperate, whining food begging sound that these youngsters make when they see a
male coming with food....and she came screaming to the nest, as I noticed another Osprey coming from the other direction.....it's an adult male! Must be Dad. He lands on the nest with a fish and she grabs it and heads back to her secret perch....I can't see her but can hear her. He heads off immediately also and disappears quickly. All is well, she has not been left behind, she is being cared for, so I began hiking back and then spotted the male in a tree where I was able to read his band and identify him one last time. It's getting late, but these males do typically stay until no one
needs food. But they are often scarce and it requires great patience, and some luck, to witness those quick fish
deliveries. It's easy to think that the adults are not around
any longer. They no longer perch near the nest watching over the juveniles. But the males have a huge investment in the youngsters and they are remarkably committed to caring for them. That's his DNA in that juvenile! As I often say, their behaviors are largely motivated by two strong instincts....to survive and to reproduce. To breed successfully requires them to do this caretaking until the juveniles begin their migration. The fatter the juveniles are when they begin their big trip, the better their chances of survival are. It was a pleasure to spend time out there today with some of the last Ospreys left here in my study area in the Twin Cities. I do appreciate when people share their concerns with me so I can check things out. I still learn, and I love to educate people about these birds I love so much. It took me nearly three hours to figure it all out and witness that adult male delivering a fish to his offspring. But I wanted the whole story, the big picture. And it was worth it. What better way is there to spend time?
and began food begging tho all my scans of nearby trees and the sky revealed no adult osprey. I got to examine her visually.....her crop was empty, but she definitely had some belly fat reserves....no sharp keel, bones well padded. Her nares had no salt around them so she was well hydrated. Her flight had been strong and controlled. All good signs indicating excellent health. I thought about how beautiful this osprey looked against the gold leaves behind her. Take it in. Remember it all, let my senses drink in this beauty...no other people, just peace and quiet. I need that so much. Sometimes I think I enjoy being alone with these birds a little too much! Anyway, she suddenly started food begging loudly and flew off behind some trees and I lost her, so I hiked in a different direction where I might be able to see her secret perch away from the nest. I walked, scanned, but could not locate her. I had now been out here for over two hours. I knew she looked well, but still was determined to figure out the whole story. So again, I waited. Listened. Watched. Finally I hear that desperate, whining food begging sound that these youngsters make when they see a
male coming with food....and she came screaming to the nest, as I noticed another Osprey coming from the other direction.....it's an adult male! Must be Dad. He lands on the nest with a fish and she grabs it and heads back to her secret perch....I can't see her but can hear her. He heads off immediately also and disappears quickly. All is well, she has not been left behind, she is being cared for, so I began hiking back and then spotted the male in a tree where I was able to read his band and identify him one last time. It's getting late, but these males do typically stay until no one
needs food. But they are often scarce and it requires great patience, and some luck, to witness those quick fish
deliveries. It's easy to think that the adults are not around
any longer. They no longer perch near the nest watching over the juveniles. But the males have a huge investment in the youngsters and they are remarkably committed to caring for them. That's his DNA in that juvenile! As I often say, their behaviors are largely motivated by two strong instincts....to survive and to reproduce. To breed successfully requires them to do this caretaking until the juveniles begin their migration. The fatter the juveniles are when they begin their big trip, the better their chances of survival are. It was a pleasure to spend time out there today with some of the last Ospreys left here in my study area in the Twin Cities. I do appreciate when people share their concerns with me so I can check things out. I still learn, and I love to educate people about these birds I love so much. It took me nearly three hours to figure it all out and witness that adult male delivering a fish to his offspring. But I wanted the whole story, the big picture. And it was worth it. What better way is there to spend time?
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