Growing in an Osprey's Garden #8

Ha ha. But it's OK, you had me questioning myself there for a minute.

8 + 9 is 17 right?

LOL!

:-)

Every-one,
A very happy new year to you all. Apologies for 'silence' was down in Margaret River with no internet access which has it's advantages and disadvantages! Margaret I like the new thread - I will post some blue wren shots there but can't do just now as have to 'rush' back to India for a week. I have visited the Osprey site this past week early in the morning when walking the dog. Every morning Harmony is present either with mum or solo. One day was very exciting as there was a hell of a racket from Harmony on the nest. Mum arrived with half a fish and then flew onto the pole to watch me. Harmony then attached herself to fish and took off across bay to the trees followed by mum so we can conclude;

a) Mum still feeding Harmony - I guess this was first feed in the morning, around 6.30 am.
b) Possibly Harmony has learn't from mum that there's privacy/safety in the trees rather than on nest
c) After 4 months chick still dependent on mum (I'd take that any day with teenagers in the house). this is consistent with some of the blogs I've seen about migrating chicks
d) there's a clear bond that Aussie never had - Aussie did well to survive. Possibly this is when other parent steps in.

I've also seen all three birds floating above the nest early on which again is consistent with all previous years.

I'm very envious of the detective work on locating the nest - incredible story. Do you think the nest was used this year........?

Take care and speak soon,
Pete

Thanks for the update, Pete. Welcome back and have a good trip to India.

I went down to the nest yesterday afternoon for the first time in a little over a week. Harmony arrived on the nest when it was in full shadow, so no photos. Madame X had seen Big Hook bring a half eaten fish to Harmony a couple of hours before I got there. Harmony had flown off to a tree to eat it. The same thing had happened a couple of days ago. She has also seen three ospreys flying around, especially in the strong morning wind.

Pete, I'll check with my contact on Garden Island as to whether the nest was used this season. It certainly didn't appear to have been, but I may be wrong.

A brief update, but there really isn't much happening. Harmony, Big Hook and Dad are seen most days, although sometimes one of them won't be seen for a day, which isn't unusual considering the vegetation. It wouldn't appear that Harmony is catching all fish for itself yet as it can still be seen a the nest, sometimes calling for food.

I went there the day before yesterday. Dad flew by the unoccupied nest with half a fish and probably seeing that Harmony wasn't there, proceeded to his favourite branch to casually eat it.

An adult raven arrived to scavenge left over bits of fish from the floor of the nest, keeping a watchful eye out for any possessive ospreys.

I don't know where she'd been, but wherever it was, she arrived shortly after the raven and looked none too pleased that it was on the nest.

After glaring at the raven for a few seconds, she flew down onto the nest. The raven quickly departed, but not before grabbing a morsel to take with it.

Big Hook remained on the nest in the shadow for the next hour before flying off.

I didn't see or hear Harmony in the 3 hours I was there, but have just confirmed with Madame X that it had been on a large rock in the river in front of her place and was doing a lot of head rocking whilst gazing into the water before leaving to an unobservable area.

Can that be a preliminary to fishing or do the youngsters dive from above?

Beautiful photos Margaret. I wonder if Big Hook was just missing Harmony sitting in the nest and needing some food. She looks lonesome. Glad to hear Harmony has been seen in the area.

I too longing to see the update on your thread Margaret. Hi Duc and everyone. Thanks Margaret and Pete for the update.

Nice shots Margaret! Nice to see everyone is doing well and accounted for.

Thanks for the update, Mags. I have been thinking about you and the osprey family!

Nice shots Margaret! Glad everyone is doing so well.

I won't start a new thread because things are really winding down at the nest. If I ever see anything really exciting, I'll start one then.

Iris, in answer to your question, ospreys will fly to sometimes as high as 200' and hover before diving in on a fish. They have incredibly sophisticated eyesight. Down at the ocean a few months ago I was watching an osprey as it was trying to fish - it wasn't easy has it had an entourage of querulous seagulls trying to drive it from the area. It would fly up and down, then hover before pulling its wings in and quickly flipping itself beyond the vertical before coming out of the dive prior to hitting the water, which they do feet first, talons out. That one was too far away for me to be able to tell if it caught a fish.

I went to the nest yesterday afternoon. It was the first time in nearly three weeks that I'd seen Harmony, although Madame X reports regular sightings. She says that when brought a fish these days, Harmony gets all hunched over with wings out to shield it and then shoo's the deliverer away. Does it think that its parent will snatch it away after it has just delivered it? Kids!

Harmony turned up after I'd been there an hour and a half. I knew the nest was still in use as a feeding platform because an unkindness of ravens came along to see if there was anything they could scavenge - and they could.



This message was edited Feb 19, 2010 2:51 PM

This message was edited Feb 19, 2010 7:58 PM

I only had my 70-200mm zoom and neither the reach nor the quality of the 400mm is there, but here's Harmony noisily coming in for a landing.

Harmony called without any great urgency every now and again, but mostly it did a bit of yawning and dozing. It was brought a fish not long after I left.

This heavily backlit shot was taken two days before I started watching the ospreys in earnest, back in August 2008. I don't know if was an osprey from "our" family; it was fishing on the other side of the river. It came up empty clawed, but you can see the water boiling (? roiling) with fish.

Wonderful shots Margaret! Harmony looks great!

Soo beautiful Margaret,you are so lucky to live close to where they nest. We have been watching 2 redtailed hawks here, we were leaving yesterday I saw a RT flying south along the edge of the woods,we pulled out heading south,I looked and saw the hawk,it swooped down to his mate ? or date ?? he did a circle and they took off .too cool. I have always watched the birds,but it seems to me that Iam seeing alot more RT hawks and kestrils,that ever ,or am I more in tune with spotting them everywhere??? Just glad I do notice !!! have agreat day Margaret.

Thank you for the report, Margaret.

Lovely pix as always, Marggie! Lots of fish...surprised it came up empty...maybe the hunt was not in earnest, just for fun or practice. Harmony is so beautiful. Of course, I get to see Harmony and Big Hook anytime because I have their photos on my desk ;o) Thanks for the update.

Margaret, no matter what lens you're using, they're all fantastic photos. I wonder why that last bird didn't catch a fish? A young one still learning????

It is nice to catch up and see that Harmony is doing well and doing what all children do growup and leave the nest!

Even with 200mm your pictures are still very nice Margaret! Though they are supposed to be along Lake Erie, I haven't seen one since the early 90's.

Beautiful photos!

I went to the nest this afternoon. As I was walking along, there were four ospreys soaring in the afternoon breeze. One was most definitely a juvenile by the sounds it was making. Harmony came and landed on the nest and preened for about 15 minutes before flying off again. I didn't take my camera with me, so no pics, but it was so good to see them. It is the first time I'd seen Harmony since February 19th. Pete (unsteady) saw an osprey on the nest yesterday and Madame X has seen Big Hook there and in the tree outside her place. It won't be long before the action starts again.

Margaret are you missing them ? sounds like maybe you are... Tamara

Tamara, after spending several hours each day for 5 months totally engrossed in the lives of these birds, to having little or no contact is strange. It isn't difficult, because it actually lets me get on with other aspects of my life. It's only another month until things start hotting up again. They really do lift my spirits.

I know what you mean,I get so engrossed in my flowers and gardens for 5months ,you put things aside.I love taking photos of my flowers ,makes me very Happy... = }

Hi Tamara, hello Margaret. At the thought of Harmony preening, aww I'd like to book a trip to the land of under. Just wishful thinking there. I myself just happy to know Margaret that you have seen Harmony and perhap 'Ole Dad and Big Hook and maybe-- just maybe Aussie? And the images of the original family of these extraordinary birds--as you've brought them into my heart. 'Ole Mum, memory of her struggle & perhaps peace at the end of her journey. I'm longing to see more.

Lily, what a lovely way of encapsulating the events that have occurred over the past 22 months. Old Ma remains in the forefront of my thoughts - and my heart. And I hope you do manage to make it to Australia.

How long do ospreys work in family groups until the young ones are off on their own?

Iris, I'm no expert, but from what I've read, it isn't common, but also isn't unheard of for one of the immatures from the previous year to remain and be involved in the rearing of the current years brood. I would think this may be more likely to occur with non-migratory birds, such as we have here.

glad you got a glimpse of Harmony....and I can't wait for a new adventure to begin!

So glad that Harmony is doing well and still hanging with the folks ;o)

That is good news, glad you got to see them. Looking forward for the next adventure of your Osprey family..