Raising Aussie Osprey #8

This and the next two images were taken by the man who has been observing this family for the last few years. At great personal peril (he climbed a tree) he took this shot of two chicks on the nest in 2006.

Posted with the owner's permission.

He said that not only was the female bringing fish for the chicks, she was also flying with her chicks, which he hasn't observed this year. I can recall only seeing her flying with Aussie on one occasion and that was the day I went out on my kayak a few weeks ago, at which time Mum was still receiving a good feed via the male.

This is Mum Osprey returning to the nest with a headless fish for the two chicks in 2007. Zooming in on the image that my compatriot sent me, the leg band is clearly visible.

Another of Mum arriving with headless fish. He reiterated that her cranky behaviour is completely out of character from what he's observed in previous years.

It's all so very sad Margaret. I wish there was something that could be done to help both of them.

Thanks, Pelle. I will say that I'm a little more optimistic about Aussie than I am about Mum. It was such a relief to see the male arrive with a fish yesterday evening. I've just returned from the river. When I arrived at the nest site, Mum was on the nest, preening herself. The Osprey's close neighbour told me that Aussie had been on the nest this morning, but Mum kicked her off. Whilst I was there, Mum went for a brief flight.

I went for a drive around the bay, stopping at various points on the off-chance that I could see the male and/or Aussie. Thing is, unless they make a sound, they could be above your head in a tree and you wouldn't know it - unless they let you know by other, more messy means.

Don't know a lot about Osprey, but I was wondering....if Mum were to die, is there a possibility Dad would mate with Aussie?

GP, I asked that exact question of the Osprey authority a couple of days ago. His response was that Aussie won't be ready to breed until the third year, so probably not.

I spent three hours at the nest site this afternoon/evening. I waited until the sun was getting pretty low, but there was no sign of Dad. He hasn't been in his favourite tree all day. I took a number of photos of Mum, thinking by doing so I might be able to see changes in her condition once I downloaded the photos onto the computer. Physically I can't see any difference in her condition. Her behaviour remains the telling factor. Her human neighbour said she's been on the nest all day apart from the brief flight she took mid-morning.

Aussie has developed a scratchy voice, possibly as a result of the amount of (fruitless) calling she's been doing.

The chances of being able to lob anything into the nest are too remote to be considered. People familiar with the area have considered practical options and each is so unlikely to succeed, even as a one-off, that it would simply be going through the motions without any realistic hope of success and if, by the one in a million chance we were able to get a fish to them, it would be completely unsustainable, even in the short term and would, in fact, be prolonging what seems fairly inevitable. No-one is more heartbroken about the situation than I am.

I've been going to the nest site a couple of times a day as do my fellow observers. Mum hadn't been seen off the nest for more than two days. Mum certainly seems bright enough; alert and looking around her. Her remaining eye is still clear and bright. She doesn't appear to be distressed and in Aussie's absence, seems remarkably content. She did some of the head rocking that was a precursor to her leaving the nest three days ago. Sure enough, she left the nest in a comfortable and controlled flight. Three of us were watching at the time and held our collective breath awaiting her return, hoping it would be with a fish. Not to be. She did a poop on her return. I didn't see it but the others did and said there wasn't much of it, but it was white. A good sign.

She took off again not long afterwards and almost immediately Aussie arrived at the nest sight. She did a little bit of calling, but mostly watched and waited for Mum's return, which didn't happen whilst we were still there.

I'd become very concerned about Aussie's well-being as she hadn't been see for a couple of days and the last time I saw her, her voice was very scratchy. After checking in on Mum late this morning, I went for a challenging walk along the foreshore and was happy to see Dad in one tree and Aussie in another, about 50 metres from him. I could see Mum still on the nest.

The attached shot is one from my co-observer, who took this shot in late 2007 or early 2008. Her left eye is still intact. He believes that the injury occurred between early and late 2008 and has had to adapt her behaviour during this season. Whilst she was hatching the eggs and rearing the chick, she was being brought fish by her mate. Over the past three weeks, Aussie has become more independent and the food supply has dried up, the male thinks he no longer needs to provide her with food as well, which under normal circumstances would be fine. My friend believes that the resulting conflict - Mum can't fish, Dad has cut down the fish supply believing she can and delivers enough fish only for one.

He concludes from this, and I agree, that as a result, poor Aussie isn't getting enough fish and may be at risk. He reiterates that the conflictual behaviour is completely out of character and both he and his wife described seeing Mum, Dad and two chicks flying around together and all living in harmony at the nest long after the chicks had fledged.

This shot, again by my co-observer is probably from the 2007 mating season. The female's left eye is very much intact.

The last of his shots for now. Many thanks, P, for the information and for providing them for posting.

I guess poor Dad has no idea there is something wrong with Mum. How sad. Maybe a real blessing that second chick did not survive this year. It would have been a real effort for all to get food. Margaret, even if this does not end as we all hope....you have been so fortunate to be able to watch this in person.

GP, you're so right. It has been and continues to be a unique experience. Yes, I hadn't even considered the added difficulties that would be encountered now if the two chicks had survived.

This is a shot of Mum Osprey yesterday. She looks equally as bright or maybe even brighter today.

Here's a shot of her this afternoon, before she went for a couple of flights.

Gosh she is a beauty!!

MargaretK~ what an incredible experience you're sharing. To see this unfold has been a very moving experience.

They are magnificent birds. Good clear shots.
I think I found an Osprey or Eagle's nest, about 15km from here. I want to keep an eye on it this spring. It's far away from the road though, up on a power line post. I doubt I'll be able to get some good shots with my camera. I know it won't be anything like your.

Usual rule is if the nest is in the open it is more than likely a Osprey, down here in Florida the Osprey are always in the open and the eagles is in among the branches.

It was pretty much in the open, so more likely being an Osprey, then. thanks for that info.

they love the phone towers around here. We have a large population of Ospreys in Northeast Florida , I believe the whole state does.

Nanny and Burn, she really is a beauty. It seems such a shame that the eye injury has affected her abilities to such an extent and is even more upsetting when the flow-on effect is considered. Burn, it would be wonderful if you could follow the progress once the nest is occupied. It sounds like you wouldn't have the dream access that I've been fortunate enough to have, but maybe you could do it on a weekly basis.

Thanks Kiska. It's good to be able to share the sad with the good.

Here's another shot from yesterday. She was quiet most of the time, with just the one brief period where she called. This shows her blind eye and the crusty build-up at the base of her beak. I haven't noticed the eye weeping and have never seen her rubbing at it as if it was sore.

I've continued to go to the site twice a day. Two or three days ago, those of there observing the mother on the nest were thrilled when she did a completely normal poop. She did another three whilst we were watching - not as impressive as the first one, but a really good sign. She hasn't seemed as depressed as she appeared to be a few days ago. She appeared alert and bright eyed. This day she wouldn't let Aussie on the nest and Aussie was pretty vocal in her objections.

I saw Mum on the nest yesterday morning and could hear Dad and Aussie when I went to a lookout a couple of hundred metres from the nest. Yesterday afternoon and the afternoon before that, Aussie turned up at the nest and would probably have remained there overnight.

Some really good news came in the form of an email from my regular co-observer this morning. I was trying to paste the email (with his permission) but can't figure out how to. Normal cut, copy and and paste options don't seem to work. So I'll re-write what he has written to me.

"Just had to update you on what {his wife} and I experienced this morning. {His wife} said you won't believe it but it's true.

This morning whilst completing our walk we decided to stop off and see what was happening at the nest. It was 6.40am a few minutes before sunrise and VERY windy. Aussie was on the nest alone - well within a couple of minutes of arriving, Aussie rose from the nest in an excited manner and 'hovered' about 100' above squawking excitedly and then 'mum' appeared from the left (direction they seem to hang out in the day). She and Aussie then seemed to fly/hover around the nest calling to each other in behaviour very similar to last year; as they did this dad appeared and the three of them did a couple of minutes together, Aussie trying to hover or float in the early thermals/wind, copying mum as dad circled and looked proudly on. Mum then landed like a helicopter in the nest - no wing flapping - just descending with minimum fuss and no squawking & made a difficult landing look easy.

Aussie continued to call and lo and behold a small hawk/falcon appeared from over the houses and tried to attack Aussie in the air before flying off. Dad disappeared and then Aussie, with much noise and wing flapping descended onto the nest with mum - not nearly as accomplished or stylish, so mum's eye works well for siting landings. Well the two Ospreys weren't at all antagonistic towards each other. Aussie did after two minutes go out onto the branch and the two of them searched the sky for dad, who had slipped away. I don't know what made me look up (possibly Aussie getting noisy) but I did and floating in the strong wind about 100' above the nest were two more Ospreys!! They looked 'mature' by that I mean not born this year - one was clearly larger than the other (male/female or possibly adult and younger Osprey?). They flew together, side by side, no more than a metre apart the whole time. Flying isn't the whole story - rather they floated parallel to the river bank, backwards and forwards for 10 minutes or so. Aussie and mum watched them, mum very relaxed about the whole thing, Aussie excited, Ospreys in the air completely relaxed.

My interpretation is that as the sun rises, birds are getting ready for the first fish of the day as they can see the fish with the sun rising. My hope is that dad disappeared to fish and mum returned to nest in anticipation and to check on Aussie who possibly slep the night on her own in the nest.

So we were both excited, 5 Ospreys in less than 15 minutes and both of us are more and more convinced that Aussie and parents are still a unit and appear to be thriving". Regards, P.

I also had a phone call a short time ago from the gardener who has been taking a keen interest in their progress. There was an Osprey on the nest. From his description I believe it is the mother.

Here's a shot of Aussie from early yesterday evening.

That's wonderful news... will you going out early tomorrow?

That's good to hear...I guess they just have arguments once in a while....we all get cranky sometimes too!

Maybe the family pulls together if they think the neighbours are out to get them ;-)

Resin

:-)

Yes, it was really good news. What a thrill to have seen that. We've shared the agony of the past couple of weeks.

When I got to the site this afternoon, Mum was on the right hand branch and Aussie was on the nest making her usual racket. Mum seemed perfectly contented, preening herself, gazing about her, looking downwards into the water with that wonderful head rocking motion and communication with Aussie. The relationship between them seemed far less strained than it has been, although when Mum started making her way down the branch towards the nest, Aussie adapted that submissive, wing down and out posture.

What I have noticed, viewing the shots of her on the computer, is that she definitely look much leaner than I've seen her before. I think this shot shows the loss of condition. So the optimism is still tainted with concern about her ability to fend for herself in the longer term. However, she is not in any distress whatsoever.

There's a brief period of time just on 7pm when the sun hits the branch and nest. Aussie's a bit puffed up, but she certainly looks bulkier than Mum.

This isn't exactly the look of a bird about to drop off the perch.

They look good Margaret!

Yes, Pelle, a few days ago I was so worried about both of them. I think we all hope that Mum will show us all what a tough old bird she is. The despair and desperation has dissipated. It's an ongoing journey.

Boots, in answer to your query about going out early tomorrow. No, probably not. We're expecting 39C tomorrow and 40 on Thursday so will have to make sure everything in the garden is up to coping with the heat, before heading out into it myself.

GP, I don't understand what it means to be cranky or have arguments. ROTFLMBFAO.

Wonderful to see the ongoing progress Margaret. We all get a bit more cranky as we age, lol, or is it just me. Learning to take no nonsense and stick up for yourself is not so bad!

As far as Mum goes, great to see her picking up, I imagine sitting on eggs for so long then not being able to exercise much would take it out of the old girl. Then there's post natal depression, lol, but seriously I think she would be teaching Aussie how to fight and fend for herself as most animals do in play.

DH says I need hormone replacement...but I am a heart patient so replacment therapy is out...just have to be a bit cranky...poor man!!!! LOL

Mum is looking a bit lean in the one pic...but doesn't seem to be suffering.

Great encouraging words, about Aussie and Mum, so happy to hear that. Aussie will make it, with all the encouragements and observing she's doing, she apt to learn a few tricks of her own.

Maybe she can learn how to call for take-out :)

Yes, let's see what strength she can draw on. There wasn't much going on at the nest this afternoon. Aussie was on the nest and Mum on the branch. Mum called a little bit but mostly dozed. Both birds appeared content.

I was speaking to the lady who lives nearby and she said Mum spent some time out on the branch during the heat of the day (we got to 39C today) with wings out and down, but otherwise she and Aussie spent most of the day quite close together on the nest with no sign of conflict between them. Mum looked even more lean today, but she doesn't appear to be in any distress whatsoever. Aussie went flying a few times, but she didn't see Mum flying at all today. This shot of Mum Osprey is from very late this afternoon.

Aussie doing what she does a lot of. Squawking.

My gosh...she does seem to be losing wieght fast.....that can't be good.

Everything about the Ospreys is bewildering and at times really awful. The lady who lives close by told me that during yesterday morning, Mum and Aussie were sharing the nest quite harmoniously. Dad brought a fish that Aussie quickly snaffled and took up onto the branch. When Mum showed an interest in the fish, Aussie put her wing right down over the fish between it and Mum, so that she couldn't get at it. There was, however, no real conflict.

I visited at about midday yesterday, always dreading what I'll find. Mum was alone on the nest, alert and preening herself. She did a couple of small, but healthy looking white poops. After about 15 minutes she flew off down the bay. I waited for her to return, but she didn't. I looked for her in the trees down that way, but wasn't able to locate her.

When I returned to the nest yesterday afternoon, Aussie was on the nest. It was an incredibly windy day, very cloudy and threatening rain. That area is even windier because it comes across a large expanse of open water and then rushes up the embankment. My fellow observer who witnessed the sight of Mum, Dad and two other Ospreys soaring on the 10th (see post for details) and I had our attention drawn to the skies because the racket Aussie was putting up. There were two, three, four and even five Ospreys soaring above. Mum was most definitely one of them as I was able to grab some (really poor) in-flight shots of her.

Aussie didn't leave the nest, but continued to watch the others soaring several hundred feet above.