July 16, 2003 Commentary: In late August or September our Osprey's will follow their instinct to migrate southwards. Much has been learned recently about Osprey migration through the use of Global Positioning System GPS) tracking systems which allow researchers to see the migration routes of individual Ospreys, and to see where they winter. The following link has a variety of tracks from Ospreys that have migrated south from Minnesota:

http://www.birdsofprey.org/migration.htm

and this link shows the southward migration tracks of Scottish Ospreys:

http://www.ospreys.org.uk/AWOP/Satellite.htm

If you want to see Ospreys on their migration there are a number of good places to go on Long Island. The best place is Fire Island from mid-September until the end of October when a north or northwest wind is blowing. North and northwest winds blow migrating birds south; the birds don't like flying over water unless
they can see land in the direction of their destination. So, when they reach Fire Island and they can only see the ocean to the south, they fly west along the length of Fire Island until they can see the New Jersey coastline. At Fire Island locations such as Smith's Point, Old Inlet and Bellport Beach you can see several dozen Ospreys migrate past on a good day. Other birds of prey also use this route and it is not uncommon to see Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, American Kestrels, Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk during the same north or northwest winds.

The Third Chick:

Another key factor in nestling competition and survival is the timing of egg laying and egg hatching. In the case of our Ospreys, the third nestling hatched a full three days later than the first two chicks. Chicks grow very quickly, and the third hatchling was already at a distinct disadvantage when it hatched because its siblings had been eating voraciously and growing for three days. If it had hatched one day later than the first and second chicks, it would have been closer in size to its siblings and better able to defend itself and compete for food.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Ospreys

Q. "What is the purple thing in the nest that seems to be stuck to one of the ospreys?"

A. I believe that it is a piece of plastic.
As to nesting material, it's mostly sticks (never seen them collect bark), the center or "bowl" is lined mostly with material from the tide wrack, i.e. sea grasses, flotsam and all matter of floating garbage; they seem to be particularly fond of black plastic bags. I had a nest on Gardiners that I dubbed the Blue Room due to the occupants propensity to incorporate a wide assortment of blue and green plastic rope, bags, beach toys, etc., etc. into the nest.
-- Wiildlife biologist Mike Scheibel

Timeline

July 14, the chicks are practicing flapping and hopping for much longer periods. Early in the morning, the chicks took turns exercising their wings. The larger chick actually flew up out of the camera view for a
few seconds. Even the other chick was impressed as it watched!

July 14, 15:43 (3:43 PM), Adult brings a small fish and as soon as it landed in the nest the smaller chick lunged and grabbed it. The adult then took off leaving the larger chick screeching and circling around the nest. The smaller chick kept its head down and ate the whole meal in about 8 minutes.
The larger chick kept circling and flapping its wings in protest, and even lunged at the smaller chick, but it didn't get the prize. Even after the fish was gone, it continued to scold and threaten. Finally, after 3 or
4 minutes, the larger chick decided to exercise its wings on the edge of the nest and quiet down.

July 15, 12:36 PM, both the chicks are lying motionless next to the grass.
The hen is sitting on the perch and calling. The hen then circles the nest, lands and becomes very agitated, screeching and holding her wings out. Suddenly a shadow flies in from the north and the hen crouches down and then flips over exposing her talons upward. As the attacker flies by she flips back on her feet and watches the other bird as it flies away. The attacker makes several more passes and the hen leaps up at it. On the final pass, the hen leaps up and flies off. During the entire incident and for the
next 30 minutes or so, the chicks don't move or make any sounds. At 14:00 (2:00 PM) the 2 chicks and the hen are all moving about the nest as usual.

July 16, 6:00 AM, first chick leaves the nest. An adult was on the perch and the chicks were calling to it. The adult left and the smaller (# 2) chick started doing exercise lift offs. After several lift offs it went up
and to its right (west) and disappeared.

July 16, 13:19 (1:19 PM), second chick leaves the nest. Both chicks were in the nest, the larger (#1) was exercising and pacing about the nest, the other (#2) was lying down behind the grass. #1 took off for the perch but misses, (you can hear it hit the perch). The other chick sits up and watches as #1 circles above and around the nest. #1 finally succeeds in landing on the perch and #2 appears to call out in approval, then does a little victory dance. The two call back and forth as #1 sits on the perch.

July 17, the first full day after both fledglings have taken to the air. They have taken turns flying off, # 2 more than # 1, but return to the nest to be fed and rest. The adults bring small fish that are taken by one
or the other fledgling, but neither will share.

July 18, the hen and the young continue to return to the nest to feed. The competition for the fish the male delivers is fierce and sometimes violent as the young birds and the hen all go for it. The young then try to
steal the fish away from each other.

Visit our Ospreycam any time and this webpage again for an updated commentary for the week.