Raising Aussie Osprey #6

Sensational shots of Aussie. What an incredibly beautiful bird! A little prayer for Mum, and thank God for her perseverance in raising Aussie.

I've just returned from the nest and Mum Osprey was there, very much alive and seemingly well. I knew immediately it was her on the nest because of her size. Aussie was resting on the nest just behind her. I could hear the male in a nearby tree. She then flew off and did a couple of passes and then Aussie joined her and they were flying together, at height, no doubt enjoying the thermals due to the heat coupled with the updraughts from the strong easterly wind striking the steep embankment. I'm so relieved, as I know all of you will be.

I'll head off to the nest much later this afternoon when I know there'll be a bit of shade. We're expecting a hot one. I'll provide an update then.

Whew!!

Yay for mum!! I wonder if that may be a normal part of the parenting to start to break the ties so to speak?

Yes, Nanny, possibly, but I wish she'd given some warning. LOL. At least I won't panic if I don't see her this afternoon.

MargaretK~ so nice to have caught up on the news. Glad mum came back and all's well. The photos are just beautiful. How's canary?

Hi, Kiska. Thanks for asking. The canary is doing brilliantly. Eating and drinking and chirping away happily. We have to keep her inside for ten days until the sutures dissolve and then she can go back out into the aviary. Tough little critter and how handy it is to have access to an avian vet.

Great news Margaret! Thanks for the update.

Hi Pelle. I'm just downloading the shots I took today of Mum eating a fish on the low branch that Aussie was on yesterday and of Aussie up on the nest in the next tree. Mum's fine by the look of it. Who knows where she was yesterday. And the good news is I've captured the critical last two numbers on her leg band. I'll contact the wife of the man who does all the Osprey banding tomorrow (it's currently 9.30pm here) and see if he, via his wife, can provide us with her story.

Oh exciting news!!! To get her history will be wonderful, also you can update the bander on how she is doing.

This is quite the ongoing story. I love it. And those last crop pictures are outstanding!

Sensational pics, Margaret. Keeping up with the saga, glad also Mom is OK.

I've finished downloading the shots from today but haven't view them beyond the firs half dozen yet. When I got to the site this afternoon, the female was devouring a fish. It's a shame I wasn't there to see how she'd come by it. This shots also shows the high level of contrast because of the shadow of the trunk.

Thanks GP. I will say I was so happy to see her there this morning.

Aussie had a good view of Mum having a feed and watched and called to her.

However, Mum completely ignored the demands from on high

She was really hoeing into it.

Oh boy, if only I could capture the sounds as well. This girl's got a temper. The shadow was well and truly onto the nest and she'd watched as her mother, on a branch below, had a good feed. Dad was calling from his favourite tree and she was screaming for food and none was forthcoming. She didn't quite stamp her feet but jumped around the nest in an agitated fashion. I guess it's all part of the process. As OP said a couple of threads ago, they are probably keeping her hungry to goad her into following them on a fishing trip.

The shadow had enveloped the nest by this time so there's limited detail, but I hope the picture demonstrates our girl having a really good tug at a twig. It wasn't a random event. She repeated it several times.

In this shot she had another twig and was actually going through the action of pushing it into the nest as if to enhance the existing structure.

That's it for tonight. I imagine you're as relieved as I am that Mum Osprey is OK.

We certainly are relieved Margaret!

Love seeing Aussie girl pitch a fit too. ;-)

And practicing some basic nest building…

This message was edited Jan 8, 2009 8:20 AM

I am so glad that Momma and canary are doing well. You may have to give her a cell phone (like I had to give to Eliza!) so she can call when she is going to be away ;o) Very nice pictures.

SO relieved that mum is okay and doing well...as is Mrs. Canary!!!

That is so lucky that you were able to get the last 2 numbers on the band. It will be exciting to get her story!

Maybe she was just at the day spa. She needed a little time to herself.

So good to see Mom. Maybe Aussie will be hungry enough tomorrow to try to learn just how Dad gets those fish.

Regarding Aussie's temper - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! I wouldn't expect anything less. She does look furious in the 8:26 a.m. post. Funny girl. I agree with mrs. ed, I think she's practicing housekeeping for next season.

Mum looks quite beautiful in the feeding frenzy photos. Wonder what she was up to?? Yeah, birdy day spa!! I let my breath out in a burst. Didn't realize I was holding it.

Wow, look at Aussie's body in the 8:35 a.m. shot! You can see the outline of her bones. Amazing.

I totoally agree OP that 8:35 shot is spectacular...really shows off her form so beautifully!

Hey great news Margaret, the numbers you got, Mum being back, your Canary recuperating well, And Aussie doing her tantrum. (terrible 2 tantrum) Great shots of Aussie and Mum. Can't wait to see, what you find out about Mum.

Well, I spoke to the lovely wife of the man who did the banding and provided her with the last two numbers, which are 19. Mum Osprey was banded whilst a chick in the nest on Garden Island, on November 21st 1990, making her eighteen years old. The band has nothing to do with her blind eye.

She'll see if she can find anything more about her. I've also been in contact with the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme in Canberra and they will do likewise.

Garden Island is a few kilometres off the coast just south of Fremantle and apart from a naval base which occupies about 30% of the island, it is in pristine condition. It is linked to the mainland by a causeway which is restricted to navy traffic only. The remaining 70% of the island is accessible to the public by private boat and takes about 15 minutes to get there from the mainland. It is closed to the public at night. As well as ? four families of Osprey, it's home to Tamar Wallabies, Carpet Pythons and Tiger snakes, the latter being among the deadliest in the world, but luckily very wary of humans and will slither off into the bush at the first sound (or vibration) of humans. Only the unfortunate get bit. I've never been there, but may organize DH to take me on a day trip there.

The picture is of the magic numbers.

Wel l!! I have just come in. and every thought I had has be written along the way. this is nail biting stuff !.
I can feel the excitement at getting the numbers. the worry of missing mum, the proudness of Aussie dive, and the relief of seeing mum again... phew ... thats enough for one night. but.... keep these wonderful photo and moment coming.

Margaret, thanks for the information of the mother. How excited you must be! Is 18 old for an osprey? And you have indeed kept the excitement going by waiting until you got the data you needed for id. If you go to Garden Island, do be careful. Lee

I went to several sites this morning to find out the lifespan of an Osprey. They all said something different. A few said 15-20, others said 20-25, and one even said 25-30 years.

Hello gardenpom, thanks for the information. Isn't it great the devotion Margaret has shown in this endeavor? Hope you are well. Lee

Hi Lee. This has been a great story to follow. I was surprised by the long life of an Osprey, I never thought about the lifespan of birds much.

GP, I was really worried about the female with the eye as it is and her not being seen for a while. I hope she can have a good quality life. Enjoy your warm weather as it is 31 here and I'm in the orchid room with sweat pant and a flannel shirt. It's only 65 in here but feels 45, maybe due to the humidity which is 64%. Have a good day. Lee

18 is a good age for an Osprey - although 30 is known, it is extremely rare for them to live that long. I reckon she's had a good innings, even if she doesn't make it through the next winter.

Age of first breeding is usually 3-4 years.

Resin

Aussie was on the nest when I got there late this afternoon (nearly 5pm). This is the beginning of a luxurious stretch.

It stretched out

She seemed to be fascinated by the exercise.

More after dinner.

My inflight shots are pretty awful so the best ones I get of her are when she's about to lift off or when she's exercising her wings, as in this pic.

I love the expression.

I was quite pleased with a number of the shots I got this afternoon, so I'm posting heaps.