Bird Watching: Raising Aussie Osprey #8, 1 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
I've continued to go to the site twice a day. Two or three days ago, those of there observing the mother on the nest were thrilled when she did a completely normal poop. She did another three whilst we were watching - not as impressive as the first one, but a really good sign. She hasn't seemed as depressed as she appeared to be a few days ago. She appeared alert and bright eyed. This day she wouldn't let Aussie on the nest and Aussie was pretty vocal in her objections.

I saw Mum on the nest yesterday morning and could hear Dad and Aussie when I went to a lookout a couple of hundred metres from the nest. Yesterday afternoon and the afternoon before that, Aussie turned up at the nest and would probably have remained there overnight.

Some really good news came in the form of an email from my regular co-observer this morning. I was trying to paste the email (with his permission) but can't figure out how to. Normal cut, copy and and paste options don't seem to work. So I'll re-write what he has written to me.

"Just had to update you on what {his wife} and I experienced this morning. {His wife} said you won't believe it but it's true.

This morning whilst completing our walk we decided to stop off and see what was happening at the nest. It was 6.40am a few minutes before sunrise and VERY windy. Aussie was on the nest alone - well within a couple of minutes of arriving, Aussie rose from the nest in an excited manner and 'hovered' about 100' above squawking excitedly and then 'mum' appeared from the left (direction they seem to hang out in the day). She and Aussie then seemed to fly/hover around the nest calling to each other in behaviour very similar to last year; as they did this dad appeared and the three of them did a couple of minutes together, Aussie trying to hover or float in the early thermals/wind, copying mum as dad circled and looked proudly on. Mum then landed like a helicopter in the nest - no wing flapping - just descending with minimum fuss and no squawking & made a difficult landing look easy.

Aussie continued to call and lo and behold a small hawk/falcon appeared from over the houses and tried to attack Aussie in the air before flying off. Dad disappeared and then Aussie, with much noise and wing flapping descended onto the nest with mum - not nearly as accomplished or stylish, so mum's eye works well for siting landings. Well the two Ospreys weren't at all antagonistic towards each other. Aussie did after two minutes go out onto the branch and the two of them searched the sky for dad, who had slipped away. I don't know what made me look up (possibly Aussie getting noisy) but I did and floating in the strong wind about 100' above the nest were two more Ospreys!! They looked 'mature' by that I mean not born this year - one was clearly larger than the other (male/female or possibly adult and younger Osprey?). They flew together, side by side, no more than a metre apart the whole time. Flying isn't the whole story - rather they floated parallel to the river bank, backwards and forwards for 10 minutes or so. Aussie and mum watched them, mum very relaxed about the whole thing, Aussie excited, Ospreys in the air completely relaxed.

My interpretation is that as the sun rises, birds are getting ready for the first fish of the day as they can see the fish with the sun rising. My hope is that dad disappeared to fish and mum returned to nest in anticipation and to check on Aussie who possibly slep the night on her own in the nest.

So we were both excited, 5 Ospreys in less than 15 minutes and both of us are more and more convinced that Aussie and parents are still a unit and appear to be thriving". Regards, P.

I also had a phone call a short time ago from the gardener who has been taking a keen interest in their progress. There was an Osprey on the nest. From his description I believe it is the mother.

Here's a shot of Aussie from early yesterday evening.