Too many ospreys!

Wow this early Osprey season has been a crazy one. We already have found 6 new nests, and we are plugging away at getting birds identified. Sadly, we are losing a lot of our banded birds....even ones that were not very old. The lovely article that was written by Jim Williams and published in the Star Tribune last week has stimulated a lot of interest in monitoring and new volunteers are being assigned nests. ( Be patient as I figure out what nests need monitors! ) We have found over the years that having good equipment, a spotting scope, does help a great deal in collecting the data we are seeking. If anyone is interested , please contact me. And a huge thanks to all the people who have reported new nests, and to the volunteers who have spotted new nesting activity while they are out and about! Many have developed a keen eye!

We are not sure why it seems like so many banded birds have not returned. Is the mortality rate going up for some reason? Some formerly active nests are now empty. I did find a banded bird today who we thought had not returned....and I was very happy to see him. I am still looking for our dear formerly single dad, without luck. A new unbanded male is working on that nest, tho I have not seen a female there yet. Many nests are incubating now but it also seems like a slow start to egg laying. As we drive around checking nests, many of my volunteers are reporting extra ospreys flying around. It was rather chaotic where I was monitoring today! Holy smokes, chasing, soaring groups of ospreys, chirping, and serious competition at some nests. I don’t get very far each day as I sit and watch all the activity! It also seems like an increase in eagle nests and eagles bothering ospreys. A number of birds have lost their nests and are having to rebuild as Cell companies, radio towers etc seem to have removed a lot of nests this year. I also have to send out a huge thanks to those who have made generous cash donations....wow, I am so touched by your support!

On a more specific level....I did swing by the Arboretum this week and found a lone female on the cam nest. I checked it several times and saw no male. Hmmmmm. I wonder if we have lost Z3. I will keep looking.

Anyway, spring has sprung, chicks are on the way, data is being collected, new volunteers are being plugged in....no rest for the weary! One of the volunteers that I connected with today said she thought she might need a Xanax!!!!! A special thanks to Barb for being my rock.....checking SO many nests, working so hard on bands, and being the one I can turn to and say....”can you run over and check this or that nest?” This truly takes a village of very special people!

Article....

Hey there was a really nice article in the Star Tribune today about our efforts! Thanks to Jim Williams for the lovely story!
http://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-area-osprey-nests-are-a-catchall-for-castoffs/508951712/

Happy Easter, Happy Earth Day

It’s been a challenging week...we are trying to get around to visiting all nests, identifying all banded birds, and it’s a huge task these days. Some of us are growing increasingly sad as we visit and revisit a nest where a beloved Osprey has resided in the past....and we keep finding an empty nest, or another Osprey there in his place. I have visited the nest where our beloved, formerly “single” Dad lived. He raised three chicks alone two years ago and earned a permanent place in my heart. I have not seen him. Today I found another male on that nest. My heart sank. One of my most dependable and devoted volunteers is also feeling a sense of loss as her “first love” in the Osprey world has not returned to his nest. These losses are inevitable and I have lost many ospreys that I loved, but it’s never easy. We do grow attached, while we know these are wild creatures and migration is not without great challenges. I also received a call about a dead Osprey, so I rushed out to check the identity. I was relieved to find that it was not the banded male from a nearby nest, but probably a young male, trying to establish a territory and suffering a catastrophic wing injury. Every loss, of every beautiful Osprey causes me great sorrow, even after 25 years. They are just so stunningly beautiful. Holding the limp body of such a perfect creature is a gut wrenching experience. Life can end so abruptly.

On a happier note, some of our favorites have returned and the first eggs have been laid. Chicks are on the way! I have also found some nests removed, and some ospreys are having to start over, rebuilding their nests quickly. We will keep making the rounds, reading bands, observing behaviors, doing what we can to keep up the research, collect the data, rescue birds when necessary, educate the public and build relationships in the community. Hoping that we can help each of you to fall in love with these magnificent raptors. Happy Easter, Happy Earth Day.

April 14, 2019....

I finally had a day that I could spend making some rounds and checking nests. I visited 20 nests. 11 had no ospreys on them, 4 had one bird, and five had a pair. I read three bands. Several other females were uncooperative as far as revealing their legs! Three males were older established males that I have known for quite a while, back on their nests. That may give you some idea of where we are regarding the return of our Osprey friends. In addition, one nest had been removed from a cell tower. Sigh. No sign of any rebuilding there.
I saw no birds at the Arboretum nest which has the cam.
It was a lovely cool, but bright day (hard for band reading.) It was so nice to be out there, watching, listening, enjoying my Osprey friends. Some lakes are still partially frozen...so don’t panic if your favorite Osprey is not back yet! We had a slow start last year, and it looks like we are experiencing the same thing this year. I expect we will see many more of our friends this week!

Sky dance

As I was coming home today, I saw a male Osprey doing a sky dance, so of course I checked the nearby nest and sure enough, a female was sitting there. He was trying to impress her! I am always impressed with this courtship display! I usually hear it before I actually spot the male, high in the sky, performing this mating ritual.

I saw this video (link below) and thought it might be a good teaching video for new volunteers have not yet witnessed this display. It still thrills me to see it!

I checked a handful of nests today, and saw one of my dear, favorite male Ospreys working diligently on his nest. I also checked out a new nest, new to me anyway, occupied by two unbanded ospreys! I still have another new one to check out on the other side of town soon. The population keeps booming. I am sure there are many nests that I don’t know about, so please do send in your reports of new nests, as we are doing our very best to keep track of them all!

Lots of reports are coming in from around the metro about ospreys back on their nests, and I deeply appreciate each and every one of them!

Hope everyone hunkers down during this spring blizzard they are predicting....5-15 inches of snow!

https://youtu.be/--F85zJmD4Y

Yes, I have seen, and identified, my first Osprey of 2019

Well, ya all probably knew I couldnt wait to see my first Osprey, so I ran up to a nearby nest and watched a banded female, band read, as she picked up sticks off the ground and worked on the nest. I watched for an hour, my heart racing...what is it about these birds? But I have to stay focused on my income producing work this week.....holy smokes it’s gonna be hard. So the 2019 Osprey season has officially begun!

There are are still a lot of volunteer monitors that I have not heard from, and we always need help watching all these nests.....and if anyone wishes to make a donation to support this field study in its 26 th year...we have a Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch page at Go Fund Me to take donations.

They’re back!!!!!!!

I know that many of you are waiting to hear something from me! Yes the reports are coming in about the first ospreys back on their nests here in the Twin Cities. I have been so busy with my pottery business and a big show next week, as well as teaching three full classes a week now....that I have not had much time for ospreys. Gotta earn some money so I can afford to start putting on the miles visiting nests. Anyway, this is a heads up for the volunteers.....Osprey season has begun, finally! I may buzz up to a nest or two tomorrow if I can.....so do keep me posted about your observations!