Enhanced Ospreycam Experience

Dear viewers:  Yes, the osprey have left for points south and we are now in the process of getting ready for an enhanced viewing experience for the next nesting season.  Our intention is to put up a close-in camera so we can see into the nest.  With a grant that we received from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and with inkind help from the Friends group and others like you, we are extending the electrical line to the nesting pole (see photo below) and will purchase & install a bullet camera which will allow us to look right into the nest to see the eggs hatch and watch the early rearing days of the young ospreys.

You can help by contributing to the cost of this project and in helping us with the monthly internet fee.  You can send a check directly to:

Friends of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge
13751 Upper Embankment Rd
Nampa, Idaho  83686
or
donate directly via PAYPAL --just go back to the live streaming video and hit the Paypal button.

Thank you for your interest!

Sincerely, Bob Christensen, Ospreycam Coordinator

AERO is still using the nest as home base and will continue to do so until he migrates in September.  His mother will leave first on her long flight south, while the father will remain behind to help Aero with meals. The father

will migrate about the same time as Aero, which will be a few weeks after the mother leaves.  All but the southernmost breeding populations in North America are migratory, vacating their breeding grounds in late summer for rain-forest rivers and fish-rich seacoasts and lakes of Central and South America.

AERO HAS FLEDGED

AERO has officially fledged.  He/she was off the nest this morning. But for the next month will continue hanging around the nest area perfecting its fly ability and learning how to fish.

Nearing time for Aero to Fledge

Keep watching.  Aero is preparing his/her wings to gain strength to fly.  The young ospreys have traditionally fedged (first flight from nest) within the first week or two of August.

AERO is the name selected for the Osprey Chick

Yes, we have a name for the osprey chick.  It is AERO.  The name was submitted by Sheryl Faller and selected by majority vote.  Sheryl tells us that "Aero" denotes something of the "air" like aeronautical.  It is also Middle English for "one."

Aero is growing fast.  His/Her parents are spending a lot of time hunting and feeding.  And this last week they are on extra duty of shading Aero from the hot July sun.

Keep watching.  rcc

Only One Chick

We have been able to confirm only one chick on the nest.  He/She is growing fast.  Keep watching.  If you have any suggestions for a name for the young osprey, send them to rcloydchris@juno.com.

WE HAVE CHICKS

Today was the first time that I observed the female feeding chicks.  The chicks are still only a few days old...they aren't sticking their heads above the bowl of the nest yet.  Be patient, they soon will and then we will know how many there are.  Be thinking of some names to give them.

WEB PHOTO OF OSPREY EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKS

Osprey Incubating Clutch of Eggs

Our resident pair of ospreys is incubating eggs.  If you watch consistently you may catch the male bringing in fish to his mate.  As near as we can tell, the incubation process started about May 1st.  That means we should have chicks sometime during the first week of June.  So, keep watching.  We w
ill have a chick naming contest once we know how many hatch,  rcc

The Ospreys are back

The ospreys are back for another nesting season.  They are currently in nest building mode.  It will be another week or two before eggs are laid.