Growing in an Osprey's garden #3

We've come from here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1047853/#top

The chick has been well named, Harmony, with thanks to Lily_love. Its growth rate is obvious from one day to the next and it is very aware of its environment. Big Hook and Dad are doting parents and there's no shortage of fish to keep it well fed. Being the only chick, there is no competition within the nest and I hope we'll continue to see things progressing along much more normal lines than what was observed last season.

From this afternoon a picture of Big Hook and Harmony gazing at each other.

Very sweet! Harmony is growing so fast!

Thanks Pelle. It's amazing, isn't it? I'm having difficulty uploading the photos from today (only 3 more). Will be back soon.

The chick can be heard panting when it's out in the sun. When the chick gets too hot, it either moves under Big Hook's shad or Big Hook will move herself to shelter the chick.

Try to disregard the weed that is partially obscuring the chick's back, which has feathers showing through the down. I just love the beautiful combination of colours.

Harmony is really beginning to look like an Osprey (with weeds looking like some extravagant ball gown).

Last shot for today. Wing walking.

LOL (wing walking). Outstanding shots Margaret!

How far are you from this nest Margaret?

Margaret,as always wonderful photos,so where did dad go? cant believe how the chick has changed in a few days almost feathers everywhere.Thank you.Tam

Pelle, I really can't figure out just how far and it's not a place where you can pace it out for a guesstimate. I need one of those pointer thingys that builders use to measure distance. One person reckons it's about 120'. I thought about 80 or 90'. I've tried to nut it out by using the scale on my lens, but haven't had any luck with that.

Hi Tamara, I don't know where he went after I lost sight of him and the other Osprey and I left as the shadow came over the nest.

Good Morning everyone ... well, that's for everyone in the part of the world where it's daytime, LOL. To those who live in an area where it's the reverse and you are fast asleep, I wish you all sweet dreams!

I'm loving the continuing journey of Big Hook, Papa and baby Harmony! The last photo on the last thread showing mama feeding her baby is really awesome! To be able to see an up close shot of the interaction between Big Hook and Harmony is really great. It really is amazing to see how quickly Harmony is growing, and look at those feathers coming! Harmony is really looking more and more like an osprey!

Question: Why has papa not been named? I haven't had a chance to go back to the older threads to read the beginning of this Osprey pair's story (or wife #1) but will do so later today. I'm kinda backwards like that when reading a book too ... if it's a really good book I try my best, but usually 3/4 of the way through I find myself turning to the back and reading the end of the story! ^_^ I guess I get so excited I just have to know what's going to happen! I'm kind of the same way with movies ... most people don't want the ending spoiled and if I know someone has already seen it I want them to tell me what's going to happen, LOL. I guess that shows I don't much like surprises, or maybe I never grew up?!

Well, I have a few errands I need to run so I have to get off this computer and get busy. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Thank you so much Margaret, for the continuing story of these beautiful birds! Be safe when out there visiting the nest!

Lin

Good morning (mevening to you Margaret) to all. How wonderful it's to wake up to this thread and seeing Harmony is growing leaps and bounds with the tender love and care of her capable parents.

I would guess 'ole Dad was once again soaring the blue sky with Aussie. He was teaching her to fish -- a life-long skill that's so essential for her well being in a long haul. Busy, busy a growing family! With a currious toddler (Harmony) at home with Mum, and an exuberant Teen ager (Aussie) who's actively venturing the world outside the nest. I love, love the picture where Harmony gazed into her mother's eyes. :-)

(I'm returning to thread #8 on Raising Aussie to recapture Aussie's leaving the nest). Many thanks Margaret for this awesome opportunity of watching the family growth and the children's development.

Goodness, Harmony is getting real feathers! I love the photos with this tender mom and baby-so crisp and clear. I do hope dad will soon return.

Wow! Look at all those feathers on Harmony...they grow up so fast!

I guess it is getting darker later...right? Y'all sprang forward and hour on Sunday...right? You see, I have this calendar that my friend from Australia sent to me and I can see the happenings ;o)

Hey Kim, you know what? They repealed that time change!

Are you serious?! I look forward to that day every year!

Marna, did you mean Australia's rejected the time change? Not us in the US that I'm aware off of. (editted to correct spelling).

Margaret, it's Autumn here in the Northern hemisphere. So is it early summer in Australia? Here in the Southern part of the U.S. Fall foliage just begun. Up Northern States the leaves have turned a brilliant color by now. We just now begun here. Kim have you got alot of Fall foliage colors locally yet?



This message was edited Oct 28, 2009 8:32 PM

Lily: That is a stunning photo!! Is that your place, it's a really beautiful scene! I love all those colors!

Autumn hasn't quite arrived in Florida yet and most of the time we just go from summer directly into winter or even pass winter and go directly into spring. We don't often get the color changes here like you see in some areas of the U.S. The Crape Myrtle trees are almost bare and I noticed a few Sycamores in the neighborhood with falling leaves but my Maple tree and Hickories still have no sign of falling leaves.

We have been having record breaking high temperatures here in central Florida lately, with daytime highs hovering around 91º. It's so hot and humid, I would love to have some cooler weather! It's still 81º here at 9:15 p.m!

Well, I stayed up late last night and finally got to read almost all of the previous threads about the Ospreys! Margaret I can't tell you enough how wonderful it is of you to share your words and photo's with us all here on DG. The continuing chapters in the lives of these beautiful birds is so educational and I really hope you publish a book or two. I will be one of your first customers! I'd love to purchase a Coffee Table book for myself and also a couple more for family members, and I'd buy a children's book for a friend's little one! Please keep us posted on your endeavors regarding compiling all of your information into a book!

Hi Lin, I am with you all the way regarding Margaret's endeavor. I'd be gladly to line up for her book(s) at any time.

The picture above is of my neighbor's where there is a subset of Island in a larger Island that we live in. It's a beautiful place 3 seasons out of 4. In the winter, it's dreadfully cold with the northern winds -- for me. That's the time I dream of Florida. lol.

Lily, it sure is beautiful with the fall colors but I know what you mean about cold. I don't like it when temp's drop below @ 45ºF at night and I prefer my daytimes to be in the mid to upper 70's, LOL. The older I get the more the awful heat and humidity of summer gets to me, but I couldn't take snow and ice. I would love to live in the N.C. or Tennessee mountains during the summer and return to Florida in the winter. ^_^

Margaret, very gorgeous thread of the Osprey's life. it's amazes me to see the growth of the chicks in both threads. And the caring duties of the parents. Thanks so much for sharing this.

Mevening all.

Lin, Dad Osprey has always been Dad or Father. It wouldn't feel right to rename him now. He's certainly been the constant over the past two seasons. I'm glad you've seen Aussie's story. It was riveting, but also very distressing to watch and hear.

I didn't go to the nest yesterday, but when I arrived there this afternoon, Harmony was moving around quite a bit, watched by Big Hook. Once again it is amazing just how much the chick has grown in just two days. Here it is moving awkwardly around on its legs instead of only moving around by wing walking.

Thanks Lily_love. I'm so glad you're enjoying Aussie's tale. Elements of it still choke me up. What a fabulous view you have at your place. You need a couple of Ospreys to nest close by.

Another of harmony when Big Hook left the nest to perch on the pole branch nearby.

After having a break and exercising her wings, she returned to the nest. Here she is coming in for a landing. Again note the bunched up claws.

Bottlenose Dolphins are frequently seen cruising by. Today I could see them farther out into the bay and beyond the capacity of my lens for the shots to be clear, but they were really playing around. I hope you can make these few shots out.

Here's one swimming along on its back

and other of the same dolphin.

Last one of the dolphins before returning to the nest. One on its side. There were at least two pods, with approximately 10 dolphins in each.

Dad arrived with a fish, which was eagerly taken by Big Hook.

Big Hook feeding Harmony

The chick can be heard very clearly now.

It is such an unhurried process.

Simply breath taking, Marg. Love to watch antics of the dolphins.

What a great family story! I know I look for updates each day on the happenings at "The Nest"!


Great shots of the Bottlenose Doplhins! We see them frequently when we are out in our boat but I've never seen one swimming on it's back like that,, what a great picture! I love it when we see them actually jump out of the water, or when they are swimming really fast during feeding but unfortunately I have a point and shoot camera, am horrid at photography, and can never get good pic's of dolphins or manatees in the water. It's all I can do to take a non-blurry picture of a stationary object, LOL. I do have one clear photo of a pair of dolphins swimming by when we were out in our boat awhile back. Margaret, please forgive me if I'm overstepping bounds by posting my photo here. I know this thread is about "our" Osprey Family but I thought I would share our Florida Bottlenose Dolphins. That's the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse in the background.

Kim, for reasons too long to go into, I am soooooooo relieved there is no daylight saving in Western Australia. I'm fairly sure all the other states and territories, except Queensland have daylight saving. Glad you liked the dolphins.

It is mid Spring here. We can have some very hot days during November and December, but things don't really start becoming relentlessly hot until early January and continue that way until early April. I'm with you, Lin. I enjoy the heat less and less as time goes by.

Burn, they are such good parents. Although she sometimes goes off for a quick flight around the bay, Big Hook can be there, on the nest, keeping a close eye on that gorgeous little chick for two or three hours without moving more than a couple of feet. Often her body will be motionless for twenty minutes or so at a time, just moving her gaze to follow the chick's movements. Here's a shot of the chick alone on the nest this afternoon, although Dad was on the nearby branch. Big Hook had gone off to the end of the bay, probably for a well earned bath.

Lin, of course you're not overstepping the bounds. I'm the one who started it by posting dolphin shots. LOL. That's a fantastic shot of your dolphins. What a fabulous looking beach.

The Rainbow Bee-eaters are frequently seen in the area now and they'll be nesting in hollows in convenient embankments before heading back up north in late March/early April. This one was on the left hand branch of the tree supporting the nest. Harmony watched on with great interest.

I think that's it for tonight. Hope you've enjoyed the pix.

I keep falling so behind for some reason....But I am here and enjoying this family. You are getting some spectacular shots of mum & Harmony!

What great parents the Ospreys are! Sometimes, when reading newspaper stories or seeing reports on the television news, it makes me think about some humans who could learn a few parenting skills from the Ospreys!

I just love the photo's when it shows Big Hook gazing at her chick. I think she is contemplating when her little Harmony will be leaving home ... sad but happy all at the same time ... she has raised her baby to go out and fend for herself and raise babies of her own!

Nanny, it's probably got something to do with you having a house full of grandkids! LOL