Bird Watching: Raising Aussie Osprey #9, 1 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
I thought I'd give an update on what's been happening with the Ospreys. Dad certainly seems to have found some peace with his new partner. I was out in the bay a few days ago and could see an adult female on the left hand branch at the nest. It was very clearly not Mum as this birds two eyes were visible and in the 7 months I've been observing this family, this has been the first time I've ever seen any of them on the left hand branch that leads out from the nest. She stayed there for at least half an hour. The following day I went to the nest site during the morning and she was there once again.

The lady who lives close by, (hereinafter known as Madam X), who has an unimpeded view of the nest has seen Dad and his new friend sitting side by side at the nest as well as flying along the bay together. She seems to be gently staking a claim to the nest.

Aussie is still around, although less obviously so, tending to spend a lot of her time in trees lower along the embankment and thus out of sight. I do catch sight of her and her sounds are unmistakable. She looks really healthy. I have no idea if she's catching her own food yet. It is usually Aussie's calling which alerts me to the presence of the new female flying above the site, as in the attached photo from yesterday, when the new female (assuming that this is her) was being pursued by an Australian Raven. Aussie continues to seem almost nonchalant about the new female's presence and her calls are not of consternation, but almost that of a greeting.

Mum hasn't been seen or heard since February 17th. Madam X and I like to think that she's sitting quietly in a tree sipping a chilled fish cocktail.

I didn't go to the nest today as we had 39.1C (102.4F). I'll continue to go to the nest, but will probably miss several days at a time, unless I get a call from Madam X or other observers, alerting me to new activity. I'll keep you posted.