Growing in an Osprey's garden #4

We've come from here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1051498/


The chick, Harmony, is now 41 days old and everything is progressing beautifully at the nest. I'm getting to know both the spoken and unspoken language between Dad and Big Hook and it is really rewarding to often be able to predict what's about to happen. Predicting what's about to happen doesn't necessarily equate to being able to capture photos of whatever it may be, but I'll continue to try.

Here is Harmony yesterday afternoon during one of the times that she was alone on the nest.

I'd no sooner arrived at the nest and a huge swarm of bees flew in front of me, close enough for me to make a polite exclamation of surprise. However, they didn't look as if they were out looking for trouble so I sat and watched their passing. Here's a shot I took with the 400mm lens at a distance of probably 20'. It took the swarm about five minutes to pass and they headed into the big gum tree close by.

Big Hook was on the nest with a sleeping Harmony. The bees must have been making their way close to the nest, because she immediately called out with concern.

Big Hook quickly moved to put her body over the top of Harmony's and spread her wings a little.

By the time the bees had mostly vanished into the base of the tree, there were only a few stragglers around. Big Hook moved away from Harmony and things settled back to normal.

It never fails to amaze me just how much baby birds grow. This is three days after the last shots of the chick on the previous thread.

More flapping and look at those legs.

The chick walks around the rest with ease now, despite the obstacles in the form of the recently added sticks. Here, it's still exercising those beautiful wings.

One more.

That is so touching, seeing the mother's instinct to protect her young, even when the danger was as real for herself as well. That must of been some swarms of bees, by the looks of it.

Burn, it was incredible. It was so apparent that that is exactly what she was doing. It was a huge swarm.

Big Hook takes off briefly (Dad was close by) and Harmony has a brief rest.

Ooops didn't realized you were still posting, sorry I butt in. Harmony is filling out nicely with all those feathers.

Burn that's completely fine. You would never be butting in. I'm glad you're there, on the other side of the world, watching as I'm posting them.

The chick hadn't finished with the exercise and resumed after Big Hook had flown off.

After a flight up and down the bay for a few minutes, Big Hook returned.

Not long after that, Dad came in with a fish. He frequently does two or three passes of the nest before he delivers it, almost as if to show Big Hook just what a good provider he is.

Last year, Dad nearly always brought a headless fish. This season, from what I've observed, 90% of the time the poor fish is still very much alive.

He was so close, I couldn't get all of him in the frame. This shot is uncropped. Pity it was such a sultry day. If the lighting had been better ........ etc.

The chick being fed by Big Hook. It was actually raining.

Dad went and alighted on the left branch. Again note that strange wet stuff that falls from the sky on rare occasions. He may go for brief flights whilst the chick is fed, but he waits with increasing impatience, knowing that when Big Hook has finished feeding the chick and herself, she'll go for a longer flight and often a bath, giving him his turn to be on the nest. It usually takes at least 45 minutes for a feed to be completed, with Big Hook making different sounds to the chick at different stages of the feed. I've noticed that when she first starts to feed it, there is little or no sound, then, as the chick starts to fill up she makes these soft little "wip, wip, wip" sounds which then change to something I can't yet describe. I'll concentrate on that second sound when I next see the chick being fed.

It became increasingly windy, a surefire trigger for ospreys to fly. Dad was still waiting his turn, but would go for brief jaunts and return either to the left hand branch or the pole branch (which is not visible from where I normally observe from). He was having fun killing time by doing some hovering.

Hovering

Then, when Big Hook left, he came down into the nest.

However, the wind was too powerful a master and he couldn't resist the urge to do some more hovering whilst flying between the left branch and the pole branch. He he is coming up to the left branch.

Still having fun.

Last one for now. It's just about time to go to the nest.

Sorry I am late in telling you how wonderfull this all is.

beautiful pics and dialog

Certainly is wonderful, the pics are gorgeous and I can't get over how much Harmony has grown! It must have been fun watching Dad hovering. The shot of Big Hook protecting Harmony from the bees is great. She is a wonderful Mother and I love shots with Dad too! Thanks Margaret!

Thank you, Boots. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

She is a good Mum, Pelle. You're so right about it being fun to watch Dad hovering. Their flight is so effortless and silent.

I have just a few pix from this afternoon to post, but won't be able to do so until tomorrow morning.

Margaret...your photos are so beautiful and your commentary is wonderful as well. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy what you have put into your threads. Truly appreciated...many thanks!

Little Harmony is growing faster than a weed...such a beautiful bird.

Lovely, Marggie. Harmony looks more like an Osprey...soon, she will be flying all around!

Rose, thank you so much.

Thanks, Kim. I'll have to check, but I think Aussie was two months and one week old when first observed flying.

One month and 12 days in counting....roughly another 33 days until Harmony takes her first step ...urhg I meant flight. Ooooh I can't hardly wait. Thank you Margaret, this thread is definately perfect present for the Hollidays!

Margaret, even with the clouds and rain, your photo's are magnificent!

Look at all those bee's, now that would scare me! Big Hook is a wonderful mom Osprey, it's so heart warming seeing her protect her baby like that. Dad is a good parent as well, always providing, and I know he would protect his baby too if he were at the nest and mom wasn't around.

Harmony sure is growing and what a beautiful bird she is ... it's going to be so much fun watching and waiting for her first flight!

Beautiful series of photos, Margaret. You are indeed fortunate and blessed to observe and photograph the nesting Osprey. Based on my understanding, the Osprey nesting population is not that extensive in Western Australia. What is considered their biggest threat to survival ? The fact that they are rather sedentary and non-migrating should eliminate a risk that migrating Osprey are exposed to. Do you actually see them all year round in your area ?

Also, what kind of bees did you photograph ? Could they have posed a serious threat to you ?

I'm full of questions !!!

Margaret, as I was looking at all your gorgeous photos, I was thinking you and that camera are a perfect pair.

Harmony sure grew in just a few days, but still has the look of a child with those beautiful eyes. I'm glad you mentioned how the osprey love to fly in the wind. I've noticed that here with our osprey, eagles and hawks.

This family should be recorded in a book for everyone to enjoy. There are so many people missing out on this beautiful story and photos!

Fantastic pictures--look at the development of the wing feathers! Bees would scare the blazes out of me.

Wonderful developments! Too bad the Rainbow Bea Eaters weren't there to snatch up a few bees. That would have been a nice photo!

What a funny guy Dad is to fly from branch to branch.

Yes, I can immagine Dad is so proud of his child he just has to dance and expressing his happiness!

Thank you all, once again.

Linth, I'm not sure about the numbers of ospreys nesting in W.A. Within a few km of where I'm watching, there are at least another three nests. There may be a fourth one, but haven't been able to confirm this. Anecdotally, there doesn't seem to be any shortage of ospreys and I've seen half a dozen flying in the area I observe from. I've heard that the number of breeding pairs on Rottnest Island, 18 km off the coast from here are increasing in numbers. I do see them all year round. During the winter just gone, they could be seen, but mostly heard in the trees down a very steep embankment a couple of hundred metres from the nest.

The bees were just ordinary honey bees. I'm fairly sure they aren't a native species. There are numerous hives dotted around the river. I'm cautious of bees, but they don't seem to be aggressive. (I hope they aren't famous last words). Mrs Ed, great minds think alike. As they were swarming I wondered where the Rainbow Bee-eaters were. I haven't heard or seen any for about a week now.

I didn't manage to get to the nest today, so here are a few shots from yesterday.

Dad with a Laughing Turtledove that probably thought it had just made the biggest mistake of its life.

The dove wasn't really flying at the osprey, it's the lens that makes it appear that way. It was actually hightailing it outa there

"Next". Actually the Willie Wagtails have kept a very low profile this year. This one didn't do any haranguing, just visited Dad briefly, then flew up onto the right hand branch to check to see who may have been up there, found it vacant and left.