Then on the morning of March 2, Rosie arrived. As soon as chatters saw her they knew it was Rosie. And she came to the nest, where Richie greeted her with a CK. There has been some speculation whether she was here earlier and was one of the ospreys seen flying around with their mate. But we'll never know. She and Richie immediately began to spend time together but not on the old nest. Instead, they perch on and around the ROV. Two ospreys have shown interest in the Dutra Crane. We're not sure who. The company was enjoined to lower the boom of the crane and did so.
At the end of February and first days of March, chatters began to notice more ospreys in the area. One female landed on the nest briefly. Richie greeted her from the boom, flirting, but then she flew off. A pair of ospreys was seen flying over the El Cerrito hills, perhaps headed to or from the San Pablo Reservoir, where there had been a recent "dump" of golden trout. And ospreys were seen flying around Pt. Molate and the areas around the nest. Then on the morning of March 2, Rosie arrived. As soon as chatters saw her they knew it was Rosie. And she came to the nest, where Richie greeted her with a CK. There has been some speculation whether she was here earlier and was one of the ospreys seen flying around with their mate. But we'll never know. She and Richie immediately began to spend time together but not on the old nest. Instead, they perch on and around the ROV. Two ospreys have shown interest in the Dutra Crane. We're not sure who. The company was enjoined to lower the boom of the crane and did so. Rosie and Richie are not spending much time on the crane this year. They roost at night on the ROV wires usually, sometimes sitting close to each other, other times apart. They spend much of their days on the light poles. As there are more ospreys in the area now, it is not as easy to identify Rosie and Richie, especially from afar. We have seen them on the crane occasionally and they have brought sticks to the sheave nest but also bring sticks to light poles. They don't seem to have made a decision yet or to be ready to breed and settle down yet. Other birds besides ospreys are abundant this year but not very aggressive so far. The gulls come to perch on the nest or crane. There is no evidence that they are nesting yet. The crows fly around to the nest and the light poles but are not being too aggressive.
0 Comments
We're getting close to osprey season. Two ospreys have been seen on the Porter nest bowl near the entrance to the auto building. Richie has been seen eating fish various places. He hangs out on light poles to eat his fish and at night perches on a wire at the ROV ship. He has two favorite spots. There are, as usual, visits by other animals: crows, ravens, little birds and raccoons. But they don't stay long. Recently, two ospreys were seen on the Richmond Yacht Club nest. The weather has helped erode the Whirley nest and the higher sheave nest. Hopefully, Richie and Rosie will choose the lower nest this year, which is flatter and better suited to building than last year. Rosie should be back within a month. She usually returns the last week of February to the first week of March. Recently, the GGBA set up a new camera on the upper part of the crane. Its resolution is much better than the old one and so is its range. Viewers have been enjoying the enhanced view. And the cam operator has been exploring the entire area, looking for ospreys farther afield. Thanks to all who contributed to make the camera possible.
The recent weather has done much to rid both the Whirley nest and last year's Sheave nest of sticks and other nest material, leaving them ready to be rebuilt. All are waiting to see what nest Richie and Rosie choose, or if they will decide to nest on a light pole this year. Nobody knows.
The WWOC held its annual Empty Nest Party on a beautiful Saturday in October at the perfect location of Point Molate Park. Fun was had by all. There was plenty of opportunity to catch up with each other, but also great food, entertainment, and activities.Lots of music, a fun skit, folded paper fish, custom made jigsaw puzzles, and a memorial nest for Clipper. Just watch the video, expertly created by craigor, to see all the fun. Meanwhile, of course Rosie has left on her migration and the nest they build this year has been falling apart. Richie continues to frequent the area. He spends most nights on the ROV wires where we can just make him out in the dark. We don't know where he spends his days. The other nests are empty as well, but there are as many as 20 ospreys, presumably males, who overwinter in Richmond and San Pablo Bay areas. If you do see ospreys during the day, please let us know. An osprey did fly by the party, but it did not appear to be Richie this year. Below are a few last pictures of Richie. Occasionally there are other visitors to the nest. There has been a report of a raccoon. There have been gulls and crows and finches. And the kingfishers below. And with no ospreys to watch, we take delight in the ever changing Bay waters and sky. Sparkles that we call harbor fairies, light effects from the cam called zoids, etc. And the ever fascinating boats, especially the large car ships that the tugs so artfully pivot. Wishing Rosie a safe flight and a relaxing stay in the South. And thank you to Richie for roosting on the wires at night. Please continue to visit and ay you stay well and well-fed throughout the Winter. November: We continue to see Richie on the ROV wires most nights. We also see an osprey or ospreys on the light poles. We assume one is Richie. Often that osprey is eating a fish. Our "boots on the ground" have seen an osprey bringing sticks to the next nest and pole put up earlier this Fall, near the Porter's nest. Perhaps one stayed behind?There is also a handsome osprey, possibly young and possibly female, hanging around. It has speckles on its chest and juvenile looking eyes. Two ospreys have even been seen hanging out together briefly. So it appears that at least one osprey besides Richie decided to stay around the ROV area this year. Meanwhile, chatters watch the Bay, the sparkles and light artifacts they call zoids, and the boat activity. There is always something to see from the cam. Also great views of the sky, the weather, and San Francisco, now lit up for the holidays.
Raccoon on the nest. Nov. 5, 2023. video by VA. Boat hull being transported. Raven on the nest, calling.. Oct. 25, 2023. video by VA The on the nest chapter has ended early this year, as one chick never hatched and the other died a few days after hatching. While sad for the human watchers, Richie and Rosie know that life must go on. Rosie spends some time on the nest still and Richie a bit. But they are eating off the nest mostly. The Matrix Master summarizes: Sunday Rosie brought a fish and Richmond took it. Monday Richmond brought a fish and Rosie took it. Yesterday Richmond brought a fish and nobody took it, then apparently caught another fish and never brought it. We don't see everything that happens off the nest, although our cam ops catch them on the light poles eating and our faithful Toaster28 gets video of them on the lightpoles and occasionally flying with a fish. Richie and Rosie flying together? photo by Toaster 28. June 15, 2023. 11:11 am and 10:51 am. June 16-19. Rosie and Richie are spending much time off the nest. However, they do connect with each other daily and sometimes bring a fish to the nest or just sit there. Other times, they perch nearby. There have been a lot of stray ospreys flying about. Other nests have chicks right now, so those ospreys would be staying close to their nest. It is unclear who these others are. But Richie had an entanglement with one female who just wouldn't leave the nest. it gave us a the opportunity to watch up close how he deals with a stranger. The crows have been less persistent. Perhaps they had been waiting for that unviable egg or perhaps they have moved on in their season as well. Richmond chases an intruder. June 15, 2023 at 4:23 pm. cap by watcher June 29: Rosie and Richie continue to stay around the nest and to interact, but they don't spend a lot of time on the nest itself. Each catches fish and generally eats the fish on a nearby lightpole, but occasionally on the nest and they sometimes share their fish. Richie has attempted a few, not very successful CK's, probably mostly as a bonding activity. And they defend their nest from other birds. There are quite a few stray ospreys flying around these days. An interesting nest to watch if you are local and can visit the area is the Richmond Yacht Club nest. There are three fledglings on the nest and the mother. The father left but there is a new male there. The nest can be seen from the end of Sandpiper Spit lane. There is also an active nest near the entrance to the new car lot, on an electric pole. The male is quite handsome and the pair is active. Chatters call this the Porter nest. In general, the nests this year have not been as successful as in past years, probably due to the unseasonable weather earlier in the season. This is part of osprey life. Given that ospreys live 20 years, the population will increase if only a few years result in three successful offspring at a given nest. Chatter Toaster28 is our faithful reporter from the ground these days, taking photos of action that the cam doesn't catch.
July 8- Rosie and Richie continue to stay near the nest, visiting to just sit or to eat a fish. Occasionally, Richie brings Rosie a fish but not often. There are now floaters around, ospreys without their own nests, and they visit the Whirley lower nest regularly. Rosie and Richie usually chase them off. The crows and ravens also come but are not a menace now with no chicks. And the gulls land on the lower nest periodically. One can imagine that it is a carefree existence for Richie and Rosie right now, concerned only with maintaining ownership of the Whirley nest and crane and feeding their own bellies. For those who are interested, there appear to be 3 fledglings at the Richmond Yacht Club nest. The adult male disappeared but either reappeared or another adult male moved in. There is an active nest at the entrance to the Port car lot on an electric pole, nicknamed the Porter nest. And there are active nests on the Point Molate road and out in the Bay there. The osprey population in the East Bay is definitely increasing! July 17: Rosie had been missing for several days and we were wondering where she was. Meanwhile, another female osprey, presumably a young one, has been visiting the nest. She has not been welcomed by Richie. Today, Rosie flew in with a large striper and landed on the nest. Richie joined her. She has been around the nest area since, carrying her big striper with her wherever she goes. Richie has been patient and doesn't even beg for a morsel. From Regina Spector: Two Birds on a Wire. Sung by the DelPrado Brothers: Craig Griffeath, Jeff Griffeath and Co. Video from VA of the action today with the visitor and Rosie returning with a large striper. July 18 July 26: Richie and Rosie make occasional visits to the sheave nest. One or the other and sometimes both of them. Sometimes, a fish is brought as well. Other times, they are on the light poles or in the vicinity. This site is to record the Whirley nest only. But in case readers are interested: The ospreys in general had a poor season, probably due to the unseasonal weather. However, the Porter nest off Canal Blvd. successfully hatched and fledged several chicks. That male is a very handsome one, with dark marks on the underside of its wings. And very active. He can be seen often flying in the area of his nest. Point Molate and Pt. San Pablo, on the other side of the freeway, have quite a few nests. The nest at Pt. San Pablo Harbor appears to have three fledglings.. At least one other nest has been successful. There have been no reports of any osprey on the nest off the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. At Pt.Molate, a number of ospreys were seen flying over the Bay. August 6: Rosie and Richie continue to spend time around the Whirley Crane, visiting the sheave nest periodically and spending nights on the ROV wires. They are bringing some fish to eat at the nest. There have been some intruders but not too many and not very aggressive. Maybe some young floaters exploring the area, now that they've fledged. Rosie and Richie continue to stay in the nest area. Richie spends the nights on the ROV wires and Rosie is presumably off camera. There are occasional floaters who visit the nest. Then Rosie and/or Richie fly in to defend the nest. The floaters appear to be young ospreys checking out the real estate. August 24: Rosie and Richie have not been around much in the day and they are eating off camera. But we do see feaking thst indicates they have just eaten.They have been spending most nights together on the ROV wires. August 31: It's the end of August and Rosie is still here. This is the time of year when she usually migrates. we shall see. For now, she and Richie are sitting together on the wires most nights and she pays an occasional visit to the rail. It appears that Rosie has begun her migration. She spent nights recently with Richie on the ROV wires and she spent some time on the nest railing. Ans she has not been seen for a positive identification since September 4. Farewell Rosie. We wish you a safe flight. May the wind lift your wings and speed you to your Southern home. We hope Richie will visit us again this year at the Empty Nest Party on September 30.
The morning of June 2, several chatters saw a chick head in the nest. Richie had been staying near and both had been spending time looking down, so chatters thought a hatch was imminent. At this time, it is assumed but not known for sure, that this is the second egg, which was due to hatch. The first egg would be overdue, but anything is possible. All is different this year and human chatters can but wait and see. Midi was given the honor of giving the chick its nickname. She dubbed it Clipper for the ships that rounded the Horn in the early days of modern San Francisco history. ships that were fast but able, and beautiful in full sail. It is up to the GGAS to decide on naming this year, as well as whether to band the chicks. The thought right now is that they will not do any banding, due to the remote location of the nest. Video by VA of the hatching. We were not able to see the actual hatching but the video shows what we could see. Videos are by VA and can be seen on the GGAS Youtube channel. Richie watching Clipper. June 2, 2023 at 4:08 pm June 3: Little Clipper is already sitting up and looking around, especially when it knows there is a fish at hand. Richei has stepped up to the plate and today four fish were devoured on the nest. Other birds continue to harass the ospreys but Richie and Rosie defend the nest quite ably. Richie brings Rosie a fish. Clipper raises its head to see what's up. June 3, 2023. video by VA. Sometimes it takes a video to show the action. For more videos go to the Youtube sfbayospreys channel. The ravens have been giving Richie and Rosie a hard time this year. They have always harassed the ospreys but they are becoming bolder, even landing on the nest when the adults are there. Rosie bringing in a fish. June 6, 2023. video by VA Rest in peace, little Clipper On the morning of June 7, chatters realized they had not seen Clipper's head. The chick could not be seen and eventually was assumed to have died. The video was reviewed and showed that the chick was last seen at 10 pm on June 6. Chatters are very sad. This was the only chick this year as the first egg didn't hatch. We will never know what happened. We do know the body was in the nest and Rosie flew it out over the bay a few days later. We also know that Nature goes her way and we can only observe and learn, avoid conjecture or blame and support one another. For memorials, see the Memorial page under 2018 on the first page of this blog. June 9: Meanwhile, life goes on. Rosie and Richie both did some nestorating. They are still being harassed when eating a fish. But they deal with it well. Rosie has been sitting on the nest and she put the unviable egg under her. Richie has been spending more time on the cable but does come to the nest and has babysat the egg a bit. Both are bringing in fish.
June 12: The corvids have gotten bolder and bolder. Today they came to the nest when Rosie wasn't there and one picked at the egg. It found a chick body inside the egg and flew off with it. The other one then came and took the eggshell. This is Nature's way. Cleaning up and feeding at the same time. VA posted a video but be aware that it can be disturbing to humans. Watch only if you can handle the emotional content. On a happier note, Richie had a little fly about and the talented VA/cam op was able to catch the entire flight all around the Bay. Free from his fatherly duties, Richie just enjoyed a long flight. It must have felt good. First Egg of 2023 laid: 5:17 pm April 21, 2023 With this new nest, it is a challenge for the human viewers to see what is going on. Several chatters were quite observant, however, and chatter watcher knew the signs of imminent egg laying from past years, and so we were able to catch Rosie laying her first egg. The VA video shows it best. Rosie's first egg at 6:49 pm. Note the coloring, mostly white with a darker patch on the large end. cap by watcher. In the absence of a good view, watcher's running commentary described the action best: 04-21 17:17 watcher: look at the motions she's making - tail up and down I can't tell if she has her wings propped watcher: if she gets all fluffed up it's a sure sign 4-21 17:28 watcher: OMG that's her incubation pose - SHE DID LAY AN EGG! WE have egg 1! watcher: yep beak plant and wiggle again as she settled over it but I can't see it Now Rosie spends most of her time on the nest. Richie comes and goes, providing fish and sticks. And requesting nest time. He loves to sit on the eggs. Rosie does leave the nest for short periods, which is normal. Letting the egg cool off slows its development so that its hatching will be closer to the subsequent eggs. The ospreys know what they're doing, from years of experience. Richie also spends quite a bit of time on the nest, as well as flying off to find fish for Rosie and sticks for the nest. Egg Number 2 was laid on April 26 at 2:08 pm with Richie in attendance. While the view is not easy to spot happenings in the nest, sharp chatter eyes saw the telltale signs of Rosie's behavior and when she stood up, they could see the second egg. It has more color than the first egg and should be able to be identified when seen. The eggs are quite deep in the nest and not readily viewed. Meanwhile, life goes on. Rosie spends most of her time lying quietly on the nest, leaving to eat the fish that Richie brings to her. There have been some intruders but they are easily chased away. At night, Rosie sleeps on the nest and Richie perches nearby. All is calm on the Whirley nest. And the weather has been cooperating. Nice, sunny days, not too hot, not too cold.
Then Rosie took it to the strut. It was a jack smelt, a small fish, just a snack. She soon finished and flew back off. We received exciting news from chatter Bill D. Lassen, a chick from 2020 was seen at Coyote Point on the platform that was built for the ospreys. He is actively building a nest and mating. So far three offspring have been sighted in the area: Rivet (2017), Victory (2018) and now Lassen (2020). Lassen and his mate on their nest at Coyote Point Spring 2023. unknown photographer. May 4-10 Life continues apace on the new Whirley nest. Rosie sits in the nest, incubating the eggs and calling to Richie when she is hungry. He brings her a fish, she grabs it and goes to the strut to eat, while he takes over the incubating. When she is done, she returns and has to nudge or sometimes even kick him to get him up. Richie seems to love to incubate. There are occasional intruders or aerial harassers, but they are easily dealt with. It appears that this new nest works better for defense as it is not so easily accessed. We have seen no mammal intruders. It would be hard to climb the cable. A raccoon tried before the eggs were laid and was unable to get far. Meanwhile, the ships come and go, and the chatters talk about this and that, and the world turns. If all goes well, the chicks should hatch near the end of May. The incubation period is normally 35-38 days. See FAQs for more information. And see the GGAS Youtube page for videos of the action. Video by VA of Rosie flying to the nest on May 3, 2023 Note the teal rope. It has been on the nest for a while but doesn't seem to present a real danger as long as there are no chicks. May 11-13 Life on the nest is all about fish. Rosie asks Richie to bring a fish then he goes to get one and brings it to her. He gets a turn on the eggs as a result. But when she returns, he often doesn't want to give up his spot. She tries different tactics and finally he relents. Video on Youtube by VA. May 8, 2023 Below: Rosie brings a Plain Finn Midshipman to the nest. May 11, 2023 For more information on this fish, see the Fish Matrix or go to the fish chapter on this site. Video by VA. The gulls and corvids are always interested when an osprey has a fish. The ravens especially harass Richie and Rosie. On May 13, Rosie went to get her own fish, a large flat fish. But the ravens kept harassing her so she flew around with it. It also was a lively fish and at one point, she lost it then flew down to retrieve it. the following video captured much of the action, thanks to VA's skill at replaying the video from various angles. May 13-22. Life on the nest continues according to the osprey daily schedule. Rosie has been fishing lately and Richie missed a few days, perhaps fishing for himself but bringing no fish to the nest. Now he is bringing them again. The crows and gulls continue to harass the ospreys whenever they have a fish. And a raccoon was spotted all the way up at the raven "nest" on the crane. Fish delivery. May 12, 2023. 3:32 pm. video by VA Rosie being watched by a crow. May 17, 7:29 pm. video by VA The ravens and ospreys chase away a raccoon, a rare act of cooperative work. May 21, 2023, video by VA May 29-30: This week we are on pip watch. Both eggs are due to hatch soon. It is hard to see the eggs this year but we catch an occasional glimpse and our chatters and VA are skilled at enhancing the picture to see better. Gulls and corvids continue to harass the ospreys whenever there is a fish at hand( at claw?). Fish brought to the nest by Richie. May 29, 2023. 8:44 pm. video by VA June 2: A chick was seen early this morning. Go to the next chapter for more information and pictures.
|
Midiis a poet and writer of children's stories who has been watching the adventures of the ospreys on the Whirley Crane Nest in Richmond, Ca. for the past seven years. Archives
March 2024
The Archive will not let me keep posts except by date. So before 2020, the dates are not accurate. The subjects of posts before then are listed here:
June 2019 WWOC Glossary May 2019 Life of an Osprey in Nuce March 2019- chapter by chapter for years 2017-1019 February 2019- Rivet's Diary January 2019- The Nest October 2018- The Boats Sept. 2018- The Fish July 2018 In Memoriam andThe Red Oak Victory ship |