Raising Aussie Osprey #9

She is so beautiful!

Now that is one spoiled little daddy's girl.. lol. Enjoying the updates.

Elaine

Aussie is well fed, wonderful shot as always.

Well, it looks as if Dad may have a new partner. There have been no positive sightings of Mum Osprey since the 17th February, although a pair of adult Osprey have been seen soaring above and also flying within the very local area frequented by our family. Yesterday when I arrived at the nest site, Aussie was on a low branch. I made my way along the path to get a better view of her. She gave her usual greeting that she and Mum Osprey give the regulars (no, not kidding).

Aussie suddenly became very excited and it was clear that another Osprey was around and I caught a glimpse of Dad flying past with a fish and turning to head up to the nest. Aussie flew off and up onto the nest, no doubt to take delivery of her meal. Dad approached the nest with the fish, but then another Osprey joined him and they flew off together, to the end of the bay where he and Mum used to hang out. I managed one snap and grab shot of the female bird, which even on the screen on the camera was enough to see that it was indeed a female and that she had two eyes. When I downloaded the shot onto the computer, I confirmed that there was no leg band.

Back up the top again, I could see two adult Osprey in the trees on the embankment at the end of the bay. Aussie remained on the nest for a while, then went up onto the branch and eventually flew off, returning about twenty minutes later. She seemed entirely unperturbed by this new presence.

This is the new female. Her breast feather pattern was what made me immediately think it wasn't Mum when I viewed it on the camera screen as it seems to extend further towards the shoulders and is more prominent. Even though the left eye isn't clear, it is still obvious that there is an eye there and the leg shows no band.

I've cropped this shot and hopefully you'll be able to make out the two adults. My lens doesn't have the length for anything clearer at that distance.

Edited to say that I just looked at this shot and even I'm hard pressed to see them. One is in the centre of the shot and the other is lower down towards the right.


This message was edited Mar 2, 2009 1:33 PM

Mmmm, I have a couple ideas. Maybe mom knows she is sick and was forcing the mate to take a new mate. She may be getting her ducks in a row.

Or maybe Dad just got tired of mom and her behavior and dumped her, but is still giving child support.

One thing for sure, it is sure an adventure to watch here.

Yep it certainly is! Nice shots Margaret. I think I see both osprey's in the second shot.

Nice shot of the new female Margaret. I can see the two in the second shot...looks like you had to be careful when you took it! Thanks for the update on this continuing saga!

I think I prefer this scenario...we probably know what has/will become of mum... but don't really need to see it played out before our eyes. And this way, we know the story may very well continue this year!! Glad that he found a new mate and Aussies is good with it. She looks like another stunning beauty too.

Awww,, maybe Aussie has a stepmom. Glad dad is still bonding.

Elaine

Yes, I am glad about dad too. It is great to see him continue the bond.

There's been some mixed emotions. There seems to be a greater sense of normality but I'll admit that Mum Osprey is in my thoughts a great deal of the time. Nanny, you've captured the essence very well.

When I went to the nest site yesterday afternoon, Aussie arrived with her usual fanfare - like some brat kid arriving home in a hot rod and letting the whole neighbourhood know . She flew between the nest and the low branch on the tree next to the nest tree. She alerted me to two adults passing well below nest level in synchronized flight. I'm assuming that the male was Dad with his new partner. They only passed by the once and then again on their return a few moments later and I could hear them making short, quiet sounds to each other.

This is a really awful shot, but shows the two of them flying close together. What I just noticed is that there is a third bird off in the distance to the left. Aussie was definitely on the low branch at the time I took it, so, if it is another Osprey, it isn't her.

Resin, can you determine if the third bird is also an Osprey?

Here's the same bird heavily cropped.

Another dodgy shot of them as they flew back to the end of the bay where Dad spends a lot of his time. I didn't see them again after this.

I went to the site mid-morning today, but there was no sight or sound of anyone. When I went over to the other side of the bay, two Ospreys flew by together, heading in the direction that would take them to our family's area, but I lost sight of them in trees blocking my view. On the balance of probabilities It may well have been Dad and new partner.

Aussie is a picture of health.

She was wet and this shot is in mid shake.

The ease with which she launches herself from the nest onto the branch below is really impressive.

I'll keep posting any updates, but that's all for this evening.

You just have to have the song "The Circle Of Life " from Lion King playing about now....it is so amazing how seamles the continuation of life is.

Great shots Margaret! Aussie looks wonderful!

I agree...Aussie is just beautiful and looks very healthy!

I was watching some Osprey here in Northeast Florida yesterday. There was a pair. One caught a fish flow out of sight, then a Bald Eagle appeared. The osprey with the fish reappeared with out the fish and both osprey circled around watching the Eagle. I believe there is a nest near by where it took the fish but it is to early for nestlings. They maybe getting ready.

Wonderful shots Margaret. Happy to see Aussie's in good health, more of a chance of making it through life.

Great shots,

Elaine

I thought I'd give an update on what's been happening with the Ospreys. Dad certainly seems to have found some peace with his new partner. I was out in the bay a few days ago and could see an adult female on the left hand branch at the nest. It was very clearly not Mum as this birds two eyes were visible and in the 7 months I've been observing this family, this has been the first time I've ever seen any of them on the left hand branch that leads out from the nest. She stayed there for at least half an hour. The following day I went to the nest site during the morning and she was there once again.

The lady who lives close by, (hereinafter known as Madam X), who has an unimpeded view of the nest has seen Dad and his new friend sitting side by side at the nest as well as flying along the bay together. She seems to be gently staking a claim to the nest.

Aussie is still around, although less obviously so, tending to spend a lot of her time in trees lower along the embankment and thus out of sight. I do catch sight of her and her sounds are unmistakable. She looks really healthy. I have no idea if she's catching her own food yet. It is usually Aussie's calling which alerts me to the presence of the new female flying above the site, as in the attached photo from yesterday, when the new female (assuming that this is her) was being pursued by an Australian Raven. Aussie continues to seem almost nonchalant about the new female's presence and her calls are not of consternation, but almost that of a greeting.

Mum hasn't been seen or heard since February 17th. Madam X and I like to think that she's sitting quietly in a tree sipping a chilled fish cocktail.

I didn't go to the nest today as we had 39.1C (102.4F). I'll continue to go to the nest, but will probably miss several days at a time, unless I get a call from Madam X or other observers, alerting me to new activity. I'll keep you posted.

I am so glad to get an update. I have been thinking about the nest and you, Marggie. I agree with you and Madam X, Mum is off somewhere getting a pedicure and sipping fishy cocktails. I am happy for Dad. Is it time for Aussie to be catching her own fish all of the time? I am glad that she is doing so well.

Stay indoors...it will be cooler soon...maybe ;o)

Kim

Thanks for the update..and nice to hear that Madame X can ring you if need be!. So amazing how seamlessly life moves on....

Do stay cool too!

Thanks Kim. Tomorrow will be a nice cool day in the low 90's. I'm sure Aussie is catching at least some of her own food now. Dad's a little preoccupied to be waiting on her hand and foot.

Sorry Nanny, cross posted. Yes the rhythm of life is indeed a powerful beat.

This message was edited Mar 15, 2009 9:40 PM

Wonderful turnout, glad for the update as well.

Well, it's been a long time between drinks. Madam X rang me mid-morning to say that there had been a lot of activity with the Ospreys. All three birds, Dad, Aussie and Dad's new partner were out and about. Aussie and Dad's new partner ended up on the nest together and were sitting together in complete harmony for some considerable time. Dad was flying around with a fish and made multiple passes close to the nest, but didn't stop and didn't leave the fish in passing. Eventually Aussie flew off to the end of the bay and the female remained at the nest. Dad continued to do fly-bys with his catch and he and his new mate communicated with each other in passing, in that unique Osprey language, but he still didn't stop off at the nest.

When I arrived a few minutes later, Dad was in his favoured position in the tree outside Madam X's house. He still had a large fish and occasionally had a bit of a snack. He has an unobstructed view of the nest from his branch and occasionally glanced over there but remained where he was and silent for probably more than an hour.

This is a shot of Dad's new partner on the nest. It was a dull, overcast day so the shots aren't all that good.

They started communicating with each other and Dad began to indicate that he was leaving. The new female became more animated as he left the branch and headed down towards the nest.

Dad's behaviour was a bit odd. He flew close to the new female a few times, not as if he was wanting to deliver the fish, but almost (and Resin will like this bit) as if he wanted to hit her with the fish in passing. She promptly jumped down onto the nest.

She adopted a very defensive pose as he did yet another pass. She has all the hallmarks of a young bird; not like her feisty predecessor who is away enjoying a well-earned break.

Now that is something you would not want to rush home to. :)

So, just when we're all thinking that that's it for several months, things start hotting up again. Here she is again. I headed off to my usual viewing area after this, but in the two minutes it took me to get there, she had gone and Dad was on the right hand branch with the fish.

Daisy you're so right.

Here's one of Dad with his fish.

She appears to be a very striking young lady...and they always go get a younger one don't they! lol

This message was edited Mar 20, 2009 12:48 PM

LOL nanny! Yes she is quite beautiful!

Oh Marggie, this is getting very exciting! The pictures are great!

Kim