A happy story….

 We do have many other osprey nests with happier activities than the Arb cam nest. Every year I tell the same story of one of my favorite males…he is a male who had a mate and three chicks when he was somehow injured, sustained a fractured keel and was found and taken to The Raptor Center for medical care. He remained in rehab for about a month, leaving his mate to care for three chicks alone. She was extremely stressed, trying to protect her young, provide food and chase away all the male ospreys that were attracted to an undefended territory. When this male was ready for release TRC asked if I would like to release him since I knew where he came from ( I read all bands and monitor all known nests in 8 counties). We talked about how things were likely to go when he was returned to his territory, and we wondered if his parental instincts would have turned off after a month of not caring for his family. I had an exilirating moment when he flew strongly up towards his nest, and his family….but then the female attacked him as if he were an intruder! I was shocked! These birds had been mated for several years, they spend 6 months apart every winter and yet they recognize each other each spring. What was going on? Well, what makes a good mate is the ability to provide food for the family and protect the territory, and what she knew is that he hadnt done that for a month. At any rate, she was relentless in keeping him away from the chicks, but when she would leave to get food, he would sneak in and drop a fish in the nest. He kept trying to care for his offspring in spite of her behavior. When all chicks had fledged and she began her migration, this male remained in the area, providing food for his juveniles until the last one began its migration. Then I wondered what would happen the next spring….but when they both returned the next year, it was if nothing had happened! That male has remained there ever since, and he has produced 20 more chicks since that eventful year. He is a very successful osprey, a devoted mate and parent. I am happy to report he is back this year and there is no happier sight to me than to read his band and watch him repairing his nest again this spring. I have so many stories, have documented so many life histories, thru my 30 years of monitoring all known nests in the metro…but this one is always one of my favorites to share! He is what we call a super osprey! But this also reveals a positive outcome from the medical care he recieved at the Raptor Center and how important long term monitoring of rehabbed birds can be. So many times they release a bird and dont know what happens to that bird….but here is a example of a wonderful long term recovery that resulted from his time in rehab, but without my careful monitoring of these nests, we wouldnt know this. Its so wonderful when we can work together for the benefit of these raptors.