Raising Aussie Osprey #5

The shadow from the tree is nearly completely over the nest in this shot and Aussie's making sounds like she's hungry. It's a very distinctive cry. She started making her way back to the nest as she undoubtedly associates the nest with being fed.

Still calling as she made her way down towards the nest.

She leapt from the branch onto the nest and walked around a bit looking for leftovers from previous meals, but the pantry was empty.

Now this was hilarious. One of the other regular observers was there with his wife and young son. (Hello Harry). Aussie did a bit of serious calling and then stamped her feet in frustration.

I hope she'll soon get the hang of hunting for herself!

The tantrum was short lived and Aussie was soon having a well earned sleep.

Knip, my fellow observer has been watching these Ospreys for the last few years and he believes it will be at least another couple of weeks before there are any fishing lessons. He has observed the parent birds flying around the area with the fledglings and that before any fishing commences the youngsters need to build strength. Makes sense. He has also seen the fledglings battling our frequent very strong winds with the parent birds calling as they fly with them to encourage them to return to the nest site. These flying forays last about ten minutes.

That's it for tonight. Thanks for sharing my experience. Back there when the temperature drops below a million degrees.

Margaret, con't to keep up to date on Aussie and so do appreciate your postings. Am late responding today as I have a cold (lurgies?). Kid have tantrums as I'm sure you know and some of us adults as well. LOL Lee

Margaret.,, I have been watching and so enjoying all the pictures of your 'baby' getting ready to fly.
Thanks so much for sharing.

Elaine

Hey Margarett do you know what happened to the females eye?

This message was edited Dec 29, 2008 10:00 PM

Thanks for the updates on Aussie. Much appreciated.

Elaine, Aussie is well and truly flying now.

Burn, it's my pleasure to keep updating Aussie's progress.

Methodical, I don't know what happened to the eye. All attempts to decipher the band on her leg have been unsuccessful. I'll try to track down her story with the Dept of Conservation and Land Management (or whatever they're called this week).

I went out on the bay in my kayak today to escape the heat. This shot was taken at around midday so the lighting was at its worst and this shot was taken with my point and shoot because it's easier when you're bobbing around on the water than the SLR with big lens.

I could hear Aussie's call and saw her and one of the parent birds flying around really high. I'm the world's worst judge of distance but it looked like they were about 150' up. It was so good to see her gliding through the air with outstretched wings. They did this for about ten minutes then landed in this tree, the parent (presumably the mother because it was markedly bigger) landing with great ease, little Aussie landing safely but a little untidily.

If you look really hard, the adult is on a branch right close to the trunk and Aussie is near the trunk but towards the bottom. I've cropped the picture so that if you follow the trunk upwards from the bottom you may be able to make her out.

Little Aussies flying away from the nest now? That's great!

I hope to hear about the Dad soon.

Margaret, love the pic from another vantage point. I'm really starting to feel a little sad now. Isn't that silly because her leaving the nest is the thing she should be doing but I'll miss your updates when she leaves. Still, I say, you must publish and I don't think I'm alone with that thought. Lee

Our baby is a big girl now!!!

Success! Wonderful! Thanks Margaret!

Bless you for going out in that heat to get picture of the adorable Aussie.
I'm excited by the thought that Aussie is flying that high and far. My Grand kids looove Aussie too. The nearly 3 year old wants to see a picture of Aussie fishing by herself, I had to tell him that she was only like a 1 or 2 year old. He is reconciled to the idea of waiting a month or so.
We eagerly await updates, but understand all too well the heat of summer and what a toll it takes on you.
Thank You,
Nan

Oh Happy Day!

I am so excited for Aussie, her parents and for you, Marg. I bet you were grinning from ear to ear when you saw Aussie flying high in the sky!

Kim

Fantastic picture story, Margaret. Happy New Year to you and yours and everyone else out there in bird land. It is now 2009 in Australia. Nine hours to go here in the USA.

I was just looking at the beginning of your first thread Margaret, what an amazing journey this has been.

Again thanks so much for sharing this will us and I wish you a very Happy 2009!

Sue

Happy New Year, Margaret!

Kim (Jeff and Eliza)

Yep, it's already tomorrow in Australia . . . and just 2½ hours of 2008 left here, too.

Tomorrow, I'll be out at the crack of dawn to start my 2009 yearlist . . .

Resin

Happy New Year to you, too, Resin. We still have about 7 1/2 hours to go.

When I got to the nest late afternoon, Aussie was on the branch leading up from the nest and Mum was on a branch that she sometimes sits on, much lower down. Aussie did one unsupervised flight of probably a couple of hundred metres to near the head of the bay and returned to do a flawless landing.

Both birds called to me to say Happy New Year to everyone on the birdwatching forum. (They didn't really).

Pelle, I hadn't seen Dad for a few days but early evening he brought a fish to Aussie, who seems to return to the nest when the shadow comes over it.

Nan, I'm glad your grandkids are enjoying the pictures.

Nanny, she is a big girl, but when I was looking at the two of them soaring above me the day before yesterday, there's a clear difference in their sizes.

Lea, don't be sad about it. It is absolutely wonderful to see her doing so well. I think it's only natural to be concerned about what the future holds for her, but she's doing what Ospreys do and has everything it takes to survive.

Wallaby, it is a success and I'm pleased to have been able to share it.

Sue, it's funny that you went back to the beginning of the first thread. I have been thinking of doing so myself. Happy New Year to you too.

Thanks, Linth and Happy New Year.

Good luck with your year list Resin.

Kim, you're right about the grin. It was a really special few minutes sitting there in the bay on my kayak looking at these two magnificent birds calling and circling around. It was actually recognising Aussie's call that drew my attention to their presence in the sky as they'd been on the nest when I paddled past. And just being there to see them both land in a tree quite remove from the nest tree was special as well.

I'll be heading off there again in about an hour. The day didn't get as hot as they predicted and the sea breeze is in, so it's OK to venture outside.

Must have been the champagne last night. Neglected to include a picture. Here she is flying from the branch down onto the nest to have another tantrum because Dad wasn't forthcoming with a fish.

She went to several parts of the nest calling, alas to no avail at that point in time.

I love this pose. I can't remember if she was getting ready to fly off the branch at this time or if she was just making noise and exercising her wings, as she often does.

Wow she looks so lovely in that first shot!

I can hardly blame Dad for making himself scarce due to the harsh treatment from Mom.

I miss seeing him.

Last shot is great!

This message was edited Jan 1, 2009 1:40 AM

Hi Pelle and Happy New Year. Glad you saw the New Year in............unlike SOME. LOL

She's got legs like a supermodel and look at those shiny black talons.

Close to touchdown.

She's gorgeous!!!

Happy New Year Miz Margaret!! :-)))

She's just fabulous. Thanks Pelle. Party on.

Here's one for Mrs Ed or Resin. I got the best shots I've been able to take of the female's leg band. I don't know if there's more on the band or not. Sometimes the inscription isn't visible because the band moves around and there's a large area of the band which is blank.

To me it looks like

WATER - WILDLIFE
CANBERRA - AUS
280-062

I've tried googling various sites but have drawn a blank.

OK, I'm off to the nest.

Happy New Year Aussie and Margaret!

Happy New Year and thanks for the great adventure..it has been wonderful!

These are the only two sites I could find. i do not know if you have checked them or not yet. I
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/reportform.html
http://www.bigvolcano.com.au/stories/ospreys/ospreys.htm

Here is one with a band pictured like the one you have. Hope this helps.
http://www.bigvolcano.com.au/stories/ospreys/ospreys.htm

Here is the form to report it on:

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/reportform.html

Thanks GP and Rose and Happy New Year to you as well.

Thanks also wren. I had seen the first site, but not the second. There's some chap here in Western Australia who keeps check on the Ospreys. I have an acquaintance who may be able to put me in touch with him if I don't have any luck otherwise.

Thanks Juney. I really appreciate it. With each of the forms I've seen there seems to be an assumption that the bird is dead or found injured. I wonder if the information on the female will be available to satisfy the curious.

There was no activity for the first hour and a half after I got there this afternoon. The shadow was already on the nest when the male arrived with a fish. That's Dad on the nest. Aussie's just visible at the bottom and side of the nest on the left and Mum's screaming abuse at the male and looking menacing as she starts to make her way down the branch.

Aussie flew off the branch and circled around before landing on the nest for a feed. Have a look at the expression and posture on the female. Poor old Dad. He's a nervous wreck.