Osprey season 2010 - Two chicks in a shallow nest.

He is the most beautiful bird. He is so proud of his family (and justifiably so).

Amazing photos Margaret!! They are such a beautiful family and I hope the smallest chick continues to thrive.

Oh Pelle, so do I. I went there this afternoon not really expecting the worst, because I would have heard from Madame X if anything catastrophic was happening, but was really, really happy to see the two chicks together in such harmony and Big Hook feeding them both.

Last shot for this evening. This was one of the earliest photos I took this afternoon, just after Dad had handed over the live fish to Big Hook. He often adopts this pose and looks at her after she's gone for the fish like a piranha would go for an unlucky canoeist. He looks at her in disbelief, almost as if he's saying "For pity's sake, girl, show some decorum".

That is funny!

Your pictures and commentary are incredible. We'd exchanged a few notes last year - I was a FederalLicensed Rehabber in Southern Indiana and had the joy of working with an osprey in that capacity.

The osprey is such an elegant, yet tough bird. strong; yet tender.

jan

Jan, you've described these osprey so beautifully.

Margaret, I agree, dad is the most beautiful bird and that second one is flight just proves his agility. Your love for this family just comes out in every single beautiful photo. It's so nice to see the little one is growing.

I always hesitate before I open the forum lately, expecting to read the worst regarding the smallest chick.

I am so relieved when there is only good news and beautiful photos!

All so interesting, and beautiful family. Glad to hear thing are improving, with the younger one. Your doing a wonderful job, in reporting the events, Margaret. Thanks so much.

Super Duper pix, Margaret!

Nice shots of Dad Margaret!! Hey kids watch Dad! ;)

OH Margaret Iam soo envious of your close proximity of the nesting site. I cant wait to go Eagle watching ,soon as they arrive we will be going down, its a 150 mile round trip.Beautiful photos and story ,Thank you Margaret

Great pictures and commentary Margaret.

Well, life is never dull watching Ospreys. I received an email from Madame X earlier today telling me that the older chick was almost chasing the smaller, younger one around the nest to peck at it. She was afraid that the smaller chick might go over the edge of the nest, so desperate were its attempts to escape its older sibling - (something I can relate to, believe me).

Whilst I was there this afternoon, the chicks were together in perfect harmony.

When I arrived, the chicks were alone on the nest and Dad was on the pole branch. There was no sign of Big Hook. Time passed and still no sign of her. After about 30 minutes, Dad came down onto the nest and stood near the chicks. He occasionally glanced towards the northern part of the bay and I assumed that Big Hook must have been down there. He then started calling, which is very unusual for him, all the while looking to the end of the bay. Big Hook eventually decided to return to the nest, at least 50 minutes after leaving. The sounds he made were a sure indication that she was on her way in.

In this shot, he's getting up from a half sitting position.

He starts to move away from the centre of the nest as she moves towards it. He adopts a half mantling posture. The two chicks are somewhere under Dad.

Then, a huge surprise. He does his lolly with Big Hook, turning towards her, wings up and making sounds that made it very clear he was unhappy with her prolonged absence.

The oldest chick can be seen at the left of Dads tail.

Then, he doesn't quite attack her, but flies towards her, still uttering calls of displeasure. Big Hook looks quite taken aback by this sudden change in attitude. In the more than two years I've been observing him at this nest, this has been the first time I've seen him even mildly aggressive. He is normally the most amazingly placid bird. It seemed to me that he was really upset by her prolonged absence.

He continues to kind of hover at her. The oldest chick is by his left leg. The smaller chick is right next to it, but I dn't think it can be seen.

He needs to get over it! Big Hook just needed some "me" time! It's hard being a new mommy! Great pic's today!

He's still hovering, but moving away from her. You can see that she looks astonished by this turn of events.

LOL Bea. No, I think he's indicating to her that she needs to start taking the responsibility of parenthood more seriously. Fancy her being off at the spa, leaving her babies like that.

He's not flying off, but continuing to hover.

Still hovering as Big Hook looks on. The oldest chick is below her chest. The little one continued to sleep.

He flew around the nest several times before briefly perching on the pole branch. He then headed off to the other side of the bay and returned with a live fish about half an hour later.

It's getting late here. I'll call it quits for tonight and post a couple of shots of the chicks in the morning.

That's what he gets for marrying a young chick, Margaret. Great story and pics to go with it. I so dislike the fact that the chicks are so far apart in age and size. I am afraid the larger chick will be a real brute as the weeks progress....I hope I am wrong. Glad so far he seems OK.

Oh this is so out of character for Dad.....I agree with you that he was probably teaching a young mom a lesson on parenthood. Really neat that you got to see and record this behavior as it happened!

Wow! Not like Dad at all...we shall see if takes his advice. Lovely series of photos, Marg!

Good for dad! I think he was so upset that something may have happened to her that he had to really rattle her up a bit. She deserved it if you ask me. I hope she's learned a good lesson.

Extraordinary photos as always Margaret.

Understandable, that Dad would have been so upset. It's never a dull moment reading about your Ospreys, Margaret.

Thanks, everyone.

Jan, I do indeed remember our chats. I'm certain that everyone on this thread would love to hear of your experiences. Do you feel like sharing them?

It really was uncharacteristic for Dad to act that way. Duc, by the way he kept look towards the top of the bay and was calling, I'm fairly certain he could see her. That was the direction she arrived from.

You're so right, GP. Every day that they survive not falling from the nest or the younger one being able to withstand the periodic bullying is a bonus.

I'm always concerned about the chicks being left unattended on the nest, even if one of the parents is close by on the pole branch. During Big Hooks absence yesterday, when Dad was maintaining a vigil from the pole branch, they were exposed in that shallow nest for at least 15 minutes. When Big Hook came back to the nest to be chastised by Dad, she eventually settled down on top of the two chicks. Now, I didn't get a shot of this, it happened so quickly, but a Kookaburra flew from the nearby trees and actually hit Big Hook as she covered the chicks. Kookaburras don't have powerful feet; that big, powerful bill is the weapon they use to prey on smaller critters, including osprey chicks, given half a chance. I think it hit her with its feet. Regardless, if a Kookaburra was to come out of the thick foliage close to the nest tree, I have my doubts that the parent bird would be able to respond fast enough to prevent a chick being nabbed.

Here are a few shots of the chicks from yesterday. I don't think my photos are close enough t be able to show it, but the older one has tiny little pin feathers coming through on its wings, chest and head. Big Hook is shaking herself after her little "incident" with Dad.

So true, Burn. There always seems to be some drama going on.

Here, Big Hook and the larger chick are preening. The darling little one is closer to its mother.

Here, Dad drops in briefly to say goodnight whilst Big Hook goes for a flight. He didn't have his claws bunched. The nest was nearly all in shadow by this time.

Big Hook settling down over the chicks for the night - well that's if she's not going out night clubbing.

HA! have to keep an eye on her. Hope she's not flirting with another man!

I find it so interesting this intense co-parenting while the hummingbird males are absolved from that role.

Great photo's and narration of events as always Margaret!! I can here Dad now..."you were gone all that time and didn't bring home a fish?"

Beautiful shots Margaret!

Thanks, Pelle and Burd. Mrs Ed, given his way, I think he'd gladly adopt the hands-on caring role - feeding, sitting, etc.

Both chicks are growing at a rate of knots, although the youngest still has the appearance of the newly hatched. It is just starting to show signs of losing the down, some of which would have been pecked off by its sibling. I saw the oldest bullying the youngster this afternoon. There are a few, so bear with me.

In this first shot, the bigger one draws itself up to its full size and adopts an intimidating manner.

The little one obviously recognizes the warning signs and starts to back away.

This will be really hard to make out, but the bigger chick is actually donging the little one on the head.

Here, the little one is floored, whilst the big bully waits for a second before another wave of attack.

The little one gets up again, using its tiny wings as levers.

The little one is hurrying away just as its sibling lunges forwards. However, the little one was too quick and the bully took a gentle nose dive. It wasn't a serious assault. At this stage the very worst that could happen would be if it pursued it and the little one went over the side of the nest. It didn't come anywhere near that today.