I just wanted to alert everyone to two cool clips of our osprey nest.
By clicking the ARCHIVE button on the webcam main page you can see adorable footage of the babies. Or you can click this link http://www2.fiberpipe.net/deerflat/vod.asp?master2010.wsx
To see footage of another osprey trying to land at the nest click here: http://www2.fiberpipe.net/deerflat/vod.asp?Intruder_061310.wsx The parents are really calling, makes me wish we had sound too ;-) I think the bird that was trying to land could be a young from last years nest. Young birds sometimes return to the nest where they were born. I did some research and wasn't able to find if young returned to the nest site: I guess it will remain a mystery.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Growing Babies
The young osprey are about 20 to 25 days old and growing very fast. Both parents are fishing to keep up with the vigorous appetites. At this time the young have more than tripled their size since hatching. They are loseing their soft downy coat and growing more adult-like feathers. The tail and flight feathers are beginning to grow in too.
During the nesting season sticks blow out of the nest or fall overboard. In order to maintain a strong nest fo the growing chicks, one of the adult osprey (presumably the male) continues to bring sticks to the nest site.
Keep watching as the young continue to grow and be even more active. Also look out for 'poop bombs'! The young osprey are now old enough to deficate or poop off the rim of the nest. They back up to the edge and let it fly.
Check out the photo of an adult osprey eating fish. Timm took this photo and sent it to the osprey cam email at ospreydeerflat@gmail.com Thanks Timm
During the nesting season sticks blow out of the nest or fall overboard. In order to maintain a strong nest fo the growing chicks, one of the adult osprey (presumably the male) continues to bring sticks to the nest site.
Keep watching as the young continue to grow and be even more active. Also look out for 'poop bombs'! The young osprey are now old enough to deficate or poop off the rim of the nest. They back up to the edge and let it fly.
Check out the photo of an adult osprey eating fish. Timm took this photo and sent it to the osprey cam email at ospreydeerflat@gmail.com Thanks Timm
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
3 Baby Osprey!
Thanks to a report from an Osprey-cam viewer.... I can confirm there are 3 chicks in the nest.
Photos to come soon!
Photos to come soon!
Monday, June 7, 2010
There are at least 2 babies!
Just a quick update, as the Refuge is very busy preparing for our BioBlitz Festival and Kid's Fishing Day Celebrations.
We have confirmed sightings of at least two osprey nestlings. The female spends quite a bit of time feeding the young. She will rip off small pieces of fish and carefully hold it near the young. It is up to the nestlings to grab the fish.
The young osprey are covered in brown/tan down. I encourage you all to visit the nest in person this weekend. (If you are local, of course.) If you are from out of town, I would love to hear from you. I often wonder who is watching the Osprey cam. It would be neat to make a list of all the states and even countries that watch the cam.
Email the Osprey cam at ospreydeerflat@gmail.com
Here are some photos of the osprey bringing home dinner. Both photos were taken by Jodi Darling. Great shots Jodi!
We have confirmed sightings of at least two osprey nestlings. The female spends quite a bit of time feeding the young. She will rip off small pieces of fish and carefully hold it near the young. It is up to the nestlings to grab the fish.
The young osprey are covered in brown/tan down. I encourage you all to visit the nest in person this weekend. (If you are local, of course.) If you are from out of town, I would love to hear from you. I often wonder who is watching the Osprey cam. It would be neat to make a list of all the states and even countries that watch the cam.
Email the Osprey cam at ospreydeerflat@gmail.com
Here are some photos of the osprey bringing home dinner. Both photos were taken by Jodi Darling. Great shots Jodi!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Babies!!!!
While I have not seen the babies, the both osprey parents are behaving like there are babies in the nest. Watch closely and please email if you seen the young.
An awesome fact to remember: the young osprey will be 90% full grown less than 30 days after hatching! Osprey fledge or first begin flying at about 55 to 60 days old.
From Birds of North America:
Figure 4. Osprey chicks usually hatch sequentially, often up to 4–5 days apart, giving older chicks an advantage when food is limited. Photo by D. Schmidt from Schmidt 2001, used with permission.
Figure 4. Osprey chicks usually hatch sequentially, often up to 4–5 days apart, giving older chicks an advantage when food is limited. Photo by D. Schmidt from Schmidt 2001, used with permission.
An awesome fact to remember: the young osprey will be 90% full grown less than 30 days after hatching! Osprey fledge or first begin flying at about 55 to 60 days old.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Celebrate Biodiversity: BioBlitz 2010 & Kids’ Fishing Day at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
This year Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is combining two great events in one: BioBlitz and Kid’s Fishing Day!
The public is invited to participate in the Refuge’s 5th annual BioBlitz Festival on Saturday June 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Refuge Visitor Center. This free family event includes guided boat trips to net fish on Lake Lowell; bird banding; guided nature walks; and insect-collecting expeditions. Visitors can also view live birds of prey, fish, and reptiles; learn to identify insects at the Bug Tent; learn how to draw wildlife; visit interactive exhibits from wildlife-related organizations in Idaho; participate in kids’ crafts and activities; and explore the Refuge through a photo scavenger hunt. All guided events require pre-registration.
A BioBlitz is a 24-hour rapid survey of biological diversity. On June 11th and 12th, local scientists, naturalists, and volunteers will comb Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge to find and identify as many different species of plants and animals as possible. Although BioBlitzes have been held across the country, this is Idaho’s only one!
Photo by: Robin Peterson
This year’s BioBlitz is being held on Free Fishing Day, so bring your pole to Gotts Point for some fishing! From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, kids can learn about fish biology, fishing ethics, and water safety. Visitors will have a chance to practice casting and rigging and then test their newly-learned skills by fishing in Lake Lowell! Fishing poles will be available to borrow if needed.
BioBlitz will be at the Refuge Visitor Center; the entrance road is located at the corner of Indiana and Roosevelt in Nampa. Kids’ Fishing Day will be at Gotts Point at the west end of Greenhurst. A map, directions, and a schedule of festival events (see below) are available at http://www.fws.gov/deerflat. To sign up for one of the guided activities or for more information, call the Refuge Visitor Center at (208) 467-9278 or email deerflat@fws.gov.
BioBlitz Schedule of Guided Events: Saturday June 12th
9:00am Boat trip to net fish
10:00 Boat trip to net fish
10:30 Bird Walk
11:00 Boat trip to net fish
11:00 Plant walk
11:30 Photography walk
12:00 Bird Walk
1:00 Photography walk
All guided events require pre-registration
The public is invited to participate in the Refuge’s 5th annual BioBlitz Festival on Saturday June 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Refuge Visitor Center. This free family event includes guided boat trips to net fish on Lake Lowell; bird banding; guided nature walks; and insect-collecting expeditions. Visitors can also view live birds of prey, fish, and reptiles; learn to identify insects at the Bug Tent; learn how to draw wildlife; visit interactive exhibits from wildlife-related organizations in Idaho; participate in kids’ crafts and activities; and explore the Refuge through a photo scavenger hunt. All guided events require pre-registration.
A BioBlitz is a 24-hour rapid survey of biological diversity. On June 11th and 12th, local scientists, naturalists, and volunteers will comb Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge to find and identify as many different species of plants and animals as possible. Although BioBlitzes have been held across the country, this is Idaho’s only one!
Photo by: Robin Peterson
This year’s BioBlitz is being held on Free Fishing Day, so bring your pole to Gotts Point for some fishing! From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, kids can learn about fish biology, fishing ethics, and water safety. Visitors will have a chance to practice casting and rigging and then test their newly-learned skills by fishing in Lake Lowell! Fishing poles will be available to borrow if needed.
BioBlitz will be at the Refuge Visitor Center; the entrance road is located at the corner of Indiana and Roosevelt in Nampa. Kids’ Fishing Day will be at Gotts Point at the west end of Greenhurst. A map, directions, and a schedule of festival events (see below) are available at http://www.fws.gov/deerflat. To sign up for one of the guided activities or for more information, call the Refuge Visitor Center at (208) 467-9278 or email deerflat@fws.gov.
BioBlitz Schedule of Guided Events: Saturday June 12th
9:00am Boat trip to net fish
10:00 Boat trip to net fish
10:30 Bird Walk
11:00 Boat trip to net fish
11:00 Plant walk
11:30 Photography walk
12:00 Bird Walk
1:00 Photography walk
All guided events require pre-registration
Long awaited update!
Wow! I’m embarrassed at how long it’s been since I have updated the blog! Spring means Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is field trip central, we have hosted more than 1,400 students and parents at the refuge since I last wrote. Plus, I am working full tilt on our big summer party: BioBlitz Festival 2010! More on that later…
If you are worried about missing out on the Osprey, don’t fret. Since I last wrote the nest is pretty much status quo. Female incubates the eggs, male hunts fish, he brings home dinner, she accepts the fish-flies off and eats, returns and they switch places again.
BUT! Today is the day! Day 36! If my calculations are correct I except the eggs to hatch today. With the spring cold weather, we will have to wait and see. I am watching closely to see if the female changes her behavior. For the first week of life, the young osprey are not able to keep themselves warm (thermoregulate). The female will still sit tightly on the nest, especially on cold windy days like today, and keep the young warm. Look for feeding behavior: both parents will feed the young.
Our awesome partners, Fiberpipe Internet Services and Gem State Communications have had their hands full keeping the wireless and solar panels up and running during this wet, cold and windy spring. We have another maintenance visit scheduled for June 1st. After that, the cam should be up and running during daylight hours.
If you want to see the osprey in person, there is no better day to visit than June 12th. See the next post and celebrate biodiversity.
If you are worried about missing out on the Osprey, don’t fret. Since I last wrote the nest is pretty much status quo. Female incubates the eggs, male hunts fish, he brings home dinner, she accepts the fish-flies off and eats, returns and they switch places again.
BUT! Today is the day! Day 36! If my calculations are correct I except the eggs to hatch today. With the spring cold weather, we will have to wait and see. I am watching closely to see if the female changes her behavior. For the first week of life, the young osprey are not able to keep themselves warm (thermoregulate). The female will still sit tightly on the nest, especially on cold windy days like today, and keep the young warm. Look for feeding behavior: both parents will feed the young.
Our awesome partners, Fiberpipe Internet Services and Gem State Communications have had their hands full keeping the wireless and solar panels up and running during this wet, cold and windy spring. We have another maintenance visit scheduled for June 1st. After that, the cam should be up and running during daylight hours.
If you want to see the osprey in person, there is no better day to visit than June 12th. See the next post and celebrate biodiversity.
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