Richie has been gracing us with his presence every night, perched on the ROV wires. We hope he is regaining his strength for the upcoming season. And that his presence will deter the corvids from intruding on the nest this coming season.
Poets in the Garden |
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This is a page about the Whirley Crane Osprey nest in Richmond. CA. Its purpose is to provide information to those who are new to the cam. It also proffers osprey related poetry, songs and stories. If you have a poem or song or chart you'd like to see on this site, please contact Midi.
All writing and personal photos are the property of the authors and may be shared only for non profitable purposes. Courtesy would dictate letting this site know if you do so.
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The end of the osprey season comes when Rosie starts her migration. But for the WWOC, it extends a bit and ends when they hold their annual party. Rosie left unannounced this year. We really don't know exactly when. Richie has been gracing us with his presence every night, perched on the ROV wires. We hope he is regaining his strength for the upcoming season. And that his presence will deter the corvids from intruding on the nest this coming season. 2022 Fish Charts End of season is when our renowned Fish Matrix Master posts the final counts of fish caught and brought to the Whirley Crane that season. Below are the charts. One notable development this year was Rosie bringing in goldfish. We never did locate their origin. For more fish information, including comparisons to previous years, see the Fish Chapter (Sept. 2018) The WWOC annual gathering was held this year at Pt. Molate park, in honor of our dear departed Molate. It proved to be a wonderful location, a beautiful view of the Bay, the bridge and Mt. Tamalpais, great weather, and plenty of shade and space. There were more than 40 attendees, many of them new to the chat group, and all having a good time. Many more attended virtually on chat. The ad hoc planning committee: craigor, Robin, Dianne A(with husband) and midi.(with the Golden Osprey). Highlights were craigor's talk on the history of the Point Molate area, the hotdog mustard challenge, and the fish bean toss game. Clay, the educational director at GGAS, helped people make osprey headbands, and the GGAS director Glenn Phillips conversed with many chatters. The WWOC thanks the GGAS for their presence at our celebration of the nest. Craigor and brother Jeff created a large heart in memory of Molate. Campers were encouraged to add to the heart throughout the day. Seabiscuit decorated the nest quite imaginatively with materials she either found or had brought with her. After lunch came the finals for the fish toss then the music began. The DelPrado brothers craigor and Jeff performed, as did midi and seabiscuit, along with seabiscuit's friend Bobo and Benjamin's brass ensemble. Quite an entourage. I'll let the music speak for itself in the video curated by craigor. Video created by craigor from footage gathered from Robin, our videographer and designer, and various other chatters. To cap off a perfect day, an osprey was seen flying over the Bay by the beach just as the DelPrado brothers were singing about Richie. The osprey, most likely Richie, flew around, periodically starting to dive to catch a fish then deciding against it, for quite a while before finally heading back to his side of the Bay in Richmond. It is hard not to believe that he heard the music and came to investigate. At any rate, all welcomed his visit. The annual blowing of the conch took place for Rosie on her migration and perhaps already relaxing at her Southern beach. Note: Photos were being posted and reposted on chat the day of and after the party. I was unable to identify the source of each cap and therefore cannot give attribution. The photos are the property of the person taking the picture and should not be copied without their permission. I am assuming permission for this post only. We wish Rosie and Brooks a safe, refreshing stay down in Southern lands. We will watch for Rosie in early Spring. We thank Richie for showing up to our party and hope to see him on the ROV wires each night. May his talon heal and may he find many fish to eat this Winter.
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This osprey season is coming to and end. The hurry and flurry of mating, laying eggs, and raising chicks has given way to a quiet time together before migration. Out of three eggs, one didn't hatch and one chick died at 7 weeks, leaving one offspring to fledge and begin to start its new life. Right now, Brooks is flying adroitly, going off then returning and eating fish provided by her parents. Rosie and Richie spend less time on the nest but have been returning at night and during the day just to drop off a fish. It has been a rather rocky ride and we hope the next month or two will be calmer, with the ospreys remaining healthy, plenty of fish caught, and successful migration later in the summer. As every year, the chatters and lurkers have learned much from the ospreys. Week 10: July 18-24 Brooks on the nest Life has settled down at the nest. Brooks has mostly been staying on the nest waiting for someone to bring her fish, which she eats readily. Rosie has been supplying most of the fish with Richie bringing an occasional striper. Rosie is spending the nights on the rail. Richie spends some nights there. Brooks flies off for a short flight occasionally but returns quickly to the nest. Richie has not been spending time on the nest. He quickly dropped off a fish on July 23. Rosie has faithfully been bringing fish to Brooks, a jacksmelt and a pfm on July 24. She has a spot right by the pier where she can catch a pfm quickly. (see the Fish counting Matrix for more information). Week 11: July 25-31 : An Interloper and an exchange Rosie takes off and gets a pfm from by the pier in a few minutes, then delivers it to the nest. July 25 at 6:15am. video by craigor. Not long after, a juvenile visitor came to the nest. Brooks expertly defended the nest but then deferred to the visitor and left. Richie dropped off a fish, apparently without noticing the changing of chicks. Juvenile visitor to the nest, July 25, 9:30 am. video by B. The visitor, dubbed Trudy by some chatters, stayed on the nest, chatting up a storm. Interestingly, both Rosie and Richie responded by dropping off fish. Brooks made some attempts to retake the nest but was rebuffed. It is known that the bird is young due to the white marks on the feathers. It is assumed that she is a female due to certain behaviors, her heavier size and her speckled chest. It is also assumed that she fledged from a nearby nest recently and is now exploring.She still expects to have a fish brought to her but can eat one by herself.
Trudy spent the night at the nest and Rosie slept on the rail nearby. In the morning, the calls for fish started. Brooks has made several attempts to retake the nest but has been rebuffed. To add to the confusion, at one point an adult female appeared on the nest, first alone, then with Trudy. ![]() Rosie and Richie spent the night with their new stepdaughter Trudy on the rail.Trudy later moved to the nest to sleep. By morning, all were gone off on their own ways. The morning of July 27, Rosie delivered a pfm to the nest. Trudy immediately came rushing in to claim it, screaming all the while. She then flew off again. Brooks has not been seen on the nest but may be nearby and may be fed off the nest by her parents. While the nest is empty, the gulls and crows take advantage and come in to clean up the fish bits. Rosie and Trudy spent time on and off the nest throughout the day. There were only two fish brought to the nest, however. Brooks has not been seen but there is indication that Richie and Brooks are nearby and that she is possibly being fed off nest. Two chatters Dianne A and Ali went to visit the area in person. They discovered a banded juvenile on the Wharf Street nest off Canal Blvd. This has to be Brooks. So apparently she is well and fed on another nest. They also found Richie probably on a light pole, conversing with Rosie across the air. On July 28, another chatter Leah went to the area by the nest to look for Brooks. She confirmed that Brooks is staying at the Wharf Street nest, along with another juvenile, probably born on that nest. All seems to be going well. Meanwhile, Trudy is queen of her nest, being fed by Rosie and an occasional fish from Richie. Richie appears to be around the area and communicating with Rosie. Early Afternoon, a quiet time of day Exciting views of Brooks from the ground: all photos taken by and property of Leah. leahsteinbergphotography.com And a quiet night with Rosie and Trudy on the rail. There is a new order on the nest. July 29 was the start of a new order on the nest. In the morning, the nest was empty, so the gulls and crows came to clean up. Around 8 o'clock, Rosie brought a striped bass to the nest and Trudy flew in screeching "Mine, mine." She then proceeded to eat the fish, squawking all the while. Finally Rosie flew in with a goldfish to exchange for the striper. Rosie held onto the now stiff striper while Trudy ate the softer goldfish. At one point, she flew off with it. Richie put in a quiet appearance in the morning. A striper for Trudy. 7 29 22 7:57 am. video by B
All three were on the rail in the evening, At one point, Trudy flew in and sat on Richie's back! Later, Rosie was left alone on the nest while 2 birds, presumably Trudy and Richie were sitting together on the ROV cable. FW's meme says it all! Order has been restored to the nest again and a pattern has been set. The nest is often empty as its residents go about their daily business. The crows and gulls come to take advantage of their absence. A fish is dropped off sometime during the day by Rosie and perhaps Richie. Trudy appears to partake of the fish. She appears to be well fed and is perhaps being fed elsewhere as well. One day she arrived with a fishtail from somewhere. Perhaps she is learning to fish for herself. The nights are spent, in different configurations, on the ROV cables or the nest rail. In contrast to previous years, when Rosie and Richie would be sleeping together either on the ROV cable or the nest rail, Rosie often sleeps alone now. Migration time is fast approaching. The human observers never know when this actually happens as the juveniles fly around, going farther and farther away from home, then one day in August they are gone. We do usually see Rosie and Richie together one last time before she migrates, usually in September. Keep your eyes peeled for blue bands around the East Bay! Week 12: August 1-7 It's All About Fish A pattern has established itself. Trudy has a full crop, has appeared wet, and seems to be well fed somehow, somewhere. Richie and Rosie are bringing her fewer fish. The three spend their time apart or sometimes together, but seem to always be in the area, on a light pole, on the ROV, on the nest rail, or fishing somewhere. Chatters too have quieted down and are showing up less. They seem to have accepted the state of affairs, now that Brooks has been located. The osprey season is winding down. Craigor, the Fish Matrix Master, made a wise statement recently: Somebody has probably mentioned this, but all these intruders, plus our faux-Rosie and faux-Richie (remember?) visitors this year, and chicks swapping nests... is probably all a sign of a healthy and growing local community of O's. There's just more O's around than there were a few years ago so they run across each other more often and have to change their behavior accordingly. And I even seem to recall reading that O's will act territorial and defensive up to a certain population density, but when they get really numerous (as on Cape Cod back east) they shift to more of a colony-type behavior with more comfortable and flexible sharing of territory. And I suspect we're seeing evidence of reaching that density. I did note from Tony\'s remarks that it is now the Richmond shoreline and not Mare Island that is the epicenter of Bay Osprey life. August 3 Just when life on the nest seemed to be calming down, Trudy surprised everyone by bringing a fish to the nest. And not just any fish, but a shark! And it appears she may have caught it herself. She brought it quietly, not screaming as she does when offered a fish by Rosie. She ate it to the last bite. It is thought that she caught it herself by Brooks Island. See video on Youtube. Then on August 3, Rosie flew in with a big striper for Trudy. As she was eating it, however, it became clear that there was fishline and a hook attached. Chatters watched with bated breath, but Trudy skillfully ate around the hook and line, and it fell to the ground, to everyone's relief. All that practice with eating around a fish spine had paid off. Fish Matrix master craigor said: "Sensible. Just had to eat around the hook until it pulled loose, then there was nothing holding the line to the fish anymore. So, lift it off the nest, give it a good shake, presto!" Birdbrain remarked: "It's funny how what we had deemed 'bad table manners' (spitting out the skin, leaving the spine hanging on a wire) turned out to be what saved the day." Many chatters changed their opinion of Trudy that day, no longer a spoiled screecher but, as more than one said, a Warrior Princess. August 4: The drama continues. Today Trudy and Brooks appeared at the same time on the nest and a tussle ensued. It was rather fierce but nobody appears to have been harmed. By evening, Brooks was gone and Trudy was on the rail alone for the night. In others news, word came back that both Brooks and Molate, who were given a DNA test while being banded, are male. Trudy did not receive a test so we can only go by appearance at this point. Most seem to think she is female.
Life goes on mostly off the nest now. Trudy shows up now and then to call for a fish. Rosie comes by with a fish and drops one off for Trudy or if she is not there, flies on to eat it herself. Richie has perhaps visited the nest once that we know, calling against intruders. Rosie can sometimes be seen on the crane up high. We see ospreys sitting on the ROV wires, where Rosie and Richie usually sit off season, usually just one now. Where is Richie and how is he doing with his hurt talon? Trudy remains the Queen of the Nest when she chooses to appear. The season is definitely drawing to a close. If you visit the area, watch for blue bands, check the nest and the surrounding areas and get on chat to tell us if you see any ospreys. Week 13: August 8-14 August 10: Richie and Rosie seem to be keeping close to the nest, often perched on the crane where they can watch. Richie will fly in to chase off an inquisitive intruder. Trudy has flown the nest and hasn't been seen in several days. An osprey has been seen on the Wharf Street nest but a band wasn't sighted, so we can't know if it is Brooks or not. We assume the fledglings are exploring the area and getting ready for their migration. Rosie with a fish. August 13, 2022. 8:39 am. video by J Week 14-16 August 15-31 Richie and Rosie The two juveniles, Trudy and Brooks, have not been seen to identify in a while. Observers from the ground have seen an osprey on the Wharf Street nest, where Brooks took up residence, but they have not seen a band. An occasional osprey flies to the nest for a moment, but they are unknown to us. Rosie and Richie have taken to spending the night together as in the past. They can usually be seen from the ATN cam roosting on the ROV wires. Rosie spends much of the day on the nest rail. Richie puts in an appearance occasionally. Both have been seen eating fish, usually on a lightpole. The crows and ravens come to the nest occasionally to clean up tasty tidbits buried amid the sticks. They are tolerated for a while then sometimes Richie or Rosie will chase them off. Interloper to the nest. August 23, 2022. video by VA Who is on the wire? August 31, 2022. Video by VA Ir is presumed that Rosie left on her migration at the end of August, the earliest she has ever left. The last photo of her on the nest is August 28. An osprey is observed almost every night on the ROV wires. We assume that is Richie. We have also seen him on the crane. Farewell to Rosie and Brooks and Trudy the intruder. May the winds in your wings be fair and you arrive safely in your Winter home. Perhaps one day, we will learn where you spend the winter. We await Rosie's return in the Spring and hope to see Brook's XA band in a few years. And to Richie: we will be watching for you over the Winter. Please visit the nest occasionally. We hope your talon heals or that you at least adjust to it, so you can fish successfully. We think it is Richie who sleeps on the ROV wires each night, often leaving very early in the morning. Nobody has sighted him elsewhere in the day, so we don't know where he is hanging out. On the sand spit as he did in the past? Or at Meeker Slough, where late chatter SailMonkey often saw him fishing. Or perhaps at the San Pablo Reservoir, taking advantage of the trout that were planted there?
Week 6: June 23-29. Developing and using their wings The chicks have been banded and named. The oldest is XA, Brooks and the youngest WM, Molate. More information on their names can be found in Part 6. Their feathers have come in, they have grown, and they have developed talons and strong legs. In short, they are ready to start practicing flying. And learn to be independent. They will spend the next few weeks doing just that. Their development is a bit behind the chart because they hatched later this year. This week is all about food. Richie and Rosie must up their game to provide for their teenagers, who need sustenance to grow, develop and start flying. Richie had a few off days when he wasn't bringing as many fish, but this week, he and Rosie have provided up to 7 fish a day. XA, the eldest, is always the first to be fed, while WM hangs back, but eventually WM gets its turn. Both have become quite vocal about calling for fish. They have found their voices! The chicks are being left alone on the nest more. Sometimes one or both parents are right on the rail or crane boom. Other times they are off fishing and the chicks are alone for a while. They are well camouflaged and the parents are alert, coming whenever there is a threat. Rosie feels the need to protect her growing chicks as they begin flapping. So she is bringing sticks to build up the rails. One such stick was so big she had trouble but she persisted and finally found a good place for it. Although the chicks are more independent now, like all teenagers, they still need family time, they need their parents nearby and they are most comfortable at night at home on the nest, where they are well protected and loved. So here's a lullaby for the chicks before they get too old for such things. Osprey Lullaby Season 6 intro: CFC C F C Go to sleep now in the nest, C F C Just lie down and take a rest. Dm G7 C And I will tell you a tale Dm G7 C Of a boat that once set sail. C F C That boat flew the chicks way up high C F C To the blue moon in the sky. C Dm G7 C The moon rocked them on its swing C Dm G7 C And a lullaby did sing. C F C So they soon fell fast asleep C F C A sleep so soothing and deep C Dm G7 C That they fell right off that swing C Dm G7 C Back under their mother’s wing. C F C There they slept all through the night C F C ‘Neath the shining moon so bright C Dm G7 C Under mother’s speckled breast C Dm G7 C On their very own sweet nest. C Dm G7 C Sleep now ospreys, sleep and dream C Dm G7 C Sleep and dream, sleep and dream. F Dm F Dm C Sleep, dream, sleep, dream ,sleep Midi 2022 Week 7: June 30 -July 6. Getting Ready to Fly The chicks are quickly becoming adult and independent. They stand on their legs now and they are self-feeding. They are becoming quite proficient at tearing off pieces of fish, but still want to be fed as well. XA tends to dominate but will usually back off after a while and let WM have a turn. XA has only become belligerent a few times. WM caught on and takes a submissive position while XA is eating, trying to hone in when possible. They participate in yelling at intruders and calling to Richie for a fish.
Fish Tug o' War. July 4, 2022. video by B Both parents are bringing fish, but Richie's fishing skills appear impaired this year. Is it his damaged talon or some other issue? He is bringing fewer fish and often seems tired after fishing. Rosie is taking up the slack. She knows a place to get Plainfin Midshipmen and can fly off the nest, catch one and return in under a minute. Her fishing place seems to be near Brooks Island by the sand spit. The daily fish count has been as high as seven, so the chicks are not starving. And one day, two fish were on the nest at the same time. Rosie has also been to the San Pablo reservoir and brought back trout. See the fish charts on chat for more information. Rosie takes off and fetches a fish from near Brooks Island in record time. Video by VA There are many quiet times on the nest. The chicks show more awareness of each other. They now sit and watch out over the Bay just like their mother. They sleep. They exercise their wings, stretching and flapping. They're close to lifting into the air. With all this flapping, Rosie feels the need to build higher rails. One day she brought in a large stick that caused her no end of trouble. In the end, she found a place for it. For a video of the stick delivery, see sfbayospreys youtube channel EGGIE or EGGBRO: The first egg laid never hatched. Rosie left it on the nest and would even sleep with it under her. The chicks used it as a pillow or an armrest. It abided. Finally it cracked and Rosie picked it up and moved it, and the shell got buried in the nest material. The VA made a moving memorial video to the egg, complete with music and posted it on the GGAS youtube channel.
Eating the goldfish that Rosie brought July 6, 2022. Video by J Richie fish delivery, using both feet. July 5, 2022. video by B? Week 8 July 7-13. First Fledge Brooks, the oldest, had been flapping, then hovering and finally fledged on July 11, flying and landing successfully on the railing. (S)he showed the ability to fly back to the nest and now flies to the rail and back with ease. Next will be to take a real flight somewhere. There have been some intruders but they are easily chased off. One, however, actually landed on the nest, looked around, showed submissive gestures, then flew off. The two chicks just watched curiously. This pair does not pancake often. And they join in the chorus to ward off defenders. Right now, it is all about fish. Growing youngsters need plenty of nourishment. As the eldest, Brooks has been fed first but Rosie sees to it that Molate gets his share. He has some obstruction, however, and eating is difficult for him. Also, fewer fish are coming this year, due to Richie's lack of ability to bring them in. Rosie has been valiantly supplementing with pfm's and goldfish. Richie mostly brings smelt. Molate, as the youngest, and suffering from some obstruction to his breathing and swallowing, is lagging behind Brooks in size and flying ability. But he is valiantly hanging in there. He has hovered a few times. He still likes to snuggle under Momma and to be fed, but is beginning to self feed and to sleep standing up. Molate hopping. July 13, 2022. video by VA Week 9: July 14-20 Sad week: Brooks flying and Molate dying Brooks' fledging: After fledging to the rail, Brooks began to explore more. She got stuck in the "basement" for a while but managed to get out. She flew to the boom of the crane. And one day, the day after Molate died, she just took off and flew towards Brooks Island. She stayed away until July 19 when she returned to the nest, yelling for food. Rosie brought a fish. Richie came by briefly. Brooks continued to dominate on the nest, but Molate valiantly held his own, despite labored breathing and swallowing. Rosie made up for Richie's lack of fishing. She has a knack for finding fish nearby: pfms and goldfish. Fish tug of war. July 15, 2022. video by J. RIP Molate May 18-July 16, 2022 On July 15, Molate was still fighting his sibling for fish. And Brooks was flying around, exploring, but returning to the nest. In the early afternoon of July 16, Molate dozed, his chest heaving for air. He took a last gasp and tumbled off the nest onto the platform below. It appears that he died instantly, possibly before falling. July 16 Rosie brought a large striper to the nest about an hour after Molate fell and fed it to Brooks, baby-style. Then she and Richie stayed through the night and Brooks stayed on the nest. July 17 and 18 In the early morning of July 17, Brooks took off, flying proficiently. Rosie brought a fish to the rail, but there was nobody there to receive it. Rosie faithfully kept the fish all night, finally finishing it herself. July 18 and 19 There was little action on the nest on July 18. Chatters began to say the season was over with a sudden thump. Then on July 19. at 8am, Rosie was sitting on the rail when Brooks came flying in, chased by a gull and landed on the nest. And there she stayed, seeming a bit tired. Richie flew by once, looked startled and disappeared. See video below by VA. There has been some disagreement with how the authorities are handling Molate's body and many varied opinions. I have posted below the statement from Wildcare, who takes in injured animals, and GGAS , which is in charge of the nest. It should be noted that there are stringent rules from Fish and Willdlife and laws governing the handling of wild raptors. These must be respected and adhered to. These laws exist to protect the birds as a species.
After only one week, the chicks are coming out from under Rosie to look around. They can lift their heads and track movement. And they have learned to open their beaks to get fish. Their development will be quick now, as they develop their wings, talons, and tails. They will learn to stand and to move around the nest, keeping their parents busy. And they will demand more fish than ever. We hope Richie is up to the task of providing fish this year. He has been doing a valiant job but seems to come empty taloned more than in the past, due probably to his missing talon. Stay tuned for a wild ride on the Whirley Nest! Week 2 Becoming aware, developing wings and standing. Two growing chicks require sustenance and Richie has had to up his game lately. He has responded valiantly, although he catches fewer fish than in past years and Rosie has done more fishing. For a few days, she was finding pfm's close by, leaving and returning to the nest in just a few minutes. Fishermen bait, one wonders? The chicks' appearance seems to change daily. First down, the white pimply skin, then the second dark down and now feathers beginning to show. Which makes them itchy. Chick B falls upside down then rights itself. Rosie is unperturbed. VA. After a fish meal, the chicks fall asleep. Often Richie and Rosie both rest on the nest in the mid afternoon. A quiet family time. Chick A decided it would grab the fish intestine for itself. But the gut got caught in its beak. It valiantly tried to swallow the intestine bit by bit and Rosie helped a bit, finally getting the chick free from the gut. See the entertaining video on the sfbayospreys Youtube channel. Week 3 Exploring, awareness of the world around them The chicks are sleeping in the open more and are beginning to wander around the nest. Rosie is bringing in sticks to build up the nest rails, so that her wandering chicks will be safe. They are also more aware of their surroundings and beginning to watch for Richie to bring a fish. And getting proficient at poops shots away from others. They have little tussles but on the whole get along quite well, compared to previous chicks. The chicks' appearance is changing to a darker down, and their feathers are beginning to come in, making them itchy. Their wings are developing and they are beginning to flap them, as well as to use them to get around on their knees. Wing flapping by Chick A. June 5, 2022. video from VA Despite his damaged talon, Richie has been bringing plenty of fish to the nest, mainly striped bass and jack smelt. He and Rosie have also both brought some Plainfin Midshipmen. And a first-ever Lingcod. The Fish Matrix below the Live Chat has a full report on all fish brought to the nest. The chicks have learned when the fish are coming and also to tell Rosie they are hungry. Richie also babysits while Rosie goes to bathe, eat or just have some alone time. The chicks are becoming quite adept at eating. They sit ready to take bites, reach for fish and even take the long gut and try to swallow it. Rosie seems to be showing them some tricks such as how to eat a fish tail. They have also become adept at shooting their poop off the nest. The chicks are growing rapidly. Rosie was spreading her wings to keep them covered at night, but now they squirm out from under her, wanting to peek out.
Weeks 4 and 5 Developing adult features and behavior In week 4, the chicks are developing wings and beginning to use them to stretch and to flap. They are learning to walk, using their oversized feet. They have tail buds. And they have learned to track and now take interest in the world beyond the nest, sitting and watching out over the Bay. They take more initiative when feeding and are learning to eat guts and skin, as well as the nice white fish flesh.They have also become quite proficient at sending their poop over the edge, although Rosie has received several hits. This pair has been quite calm and there have been few squabbles. They have also become too big to fit under Rosie and sleep out in the open more. They do still cuddle against each other. ![]() The first egg, never hatched, remains on the nest. Sometimes it is ignored, other times the chicks rest against it, and sometimes Rosie tends to it, fluffing up the nest material around it, even sitting on it. One interesting incident was when Rosie flew in a dead bird. After much discussion, it was decided that the bird was a gull. The chicks had little interest in eating it and Rosie eventually flew it back out. The chicks have been banded and have official names! They were banded early Saturday, June 18, off camera. The bands are the eldest XA and the youngest WM. Their names, chosen by the powers that be from names suggested on Facebook and chat, are Brooks and Molate. Brooks for the island and Molate for the point and other locations with that name in the area. The name Moleta was applied in Mexican times to the island known as Red Rock, probably because its conical shape resembles the conical stone (called moleta in Spanish) used by painters to grind colors. Beechy in 1826 misspelled it “molate,” and this version was adopted in 1851 by the Coast Survey when it used the island as a secondary triangulation station. Point Molate was named by the survey in 1854. More Information on Pt. Molate's history and the name can be found at: Brooks Island is an East Bay Regional Park, accessible only by park tours. The name Brooks goes back to the 1850's but the origin has never been found. The chicks continue to develop adult features and behavior. Their feathers are coming in and they're losing that baby look. They have talons and walk upright. Their wings are large. they stretch them and soon will be flapping and learning to fly. Their eyes have turned golden and they use them to track moving objects over the Bay. They are showing more awareness of their parents, each other, and intruders, as well as boats and people. But at night, they are still babies, sometimes struggling to fit under their mother to stay warm. While the two chicks grow rapidly, the first egg lies on the nest unchanged, never growing. But it is still there. As it is natural and doing no harm, the powers that be left it when they cleared the nest of such hazards as the two ropes that were there on banding day.
Rosie feels comfortable leaving the chicks alone on the nest now, but she stays nearby, ready to step in when necessary. Richie, too, though he may not be seen by the cam, is usually nearby and shows up quickly when an intruder approaches. The eggs have hatched! The first egg went past its due date and is probably not viable. The second egg hatched on May 17 at 16:00 pm. It is quite an active chick already, sitting up asking to be fed. The third egg hatched on May 18 at 16:35 pm. Chick A from Egg #2 showed a pip at 15:33 on May 17. It hatched at 4 pm. Egg #3 had the shell of Egg #2 over it, but it persisted and pushed its way out to hatch on May 18 at 4:35 pm. It is wobblier than its older sibling and not as outgoing, but it is also a day younger. May 20 Daily life with chicks has established itself. Richie has been bringing fish in regularly. Rosie feeds the chicks then they fall into a food coma for a while and she rests. Richie takes over for a while so that she can take a short break. This repeats two or more times a day. On Friday, May 20, an unusual event occurred. First, chatters thought that Richie and Rosie were arguing over a fish remnant, then they realized that there was an intruder on the nest trying to steal that piece of fish. this went on for quite a while. Unlike usual intruders, this one was allowed on the nest. A young female perhaps? She had no band. Eventually the intruder left, after Rosie gave it the stinkeye. And it was time for lunch. No fish were delivered after the lunchtime fish. May 21-23. Quick development. The chicks are learning to eat properly and to track movement with their eye. They are in the bop'em stage and have proto wings. . They still have their egg tooth. Their main job is to eat and to sleep. They are beginning to peek out from under Rosie. This behavior was explained by one chatter as the chicks learning to track movement. But there also seems to be a certain sibling rivalry as well, which continues for a while. Whichever it is all a learning experience. There has been some concern about Richie's left rear talon. It was noticed by chatters that he had poor footing then one chatter saw that a rear talon was missing. It could grow back in, but so far it is a stub. It could be just a broken talon that will regrow, much as our fingernails do, or it could be an injury that doesn't allow regrowth, or it could be a fungus. We can only watch to see.
He has been a bit lax in delivering fish this year and has not visited the reservoir. He often comes back from fishing empty-taloned. So it would seem that the missing talon does impair his fishing ability, catching and/or transporting a fish. Rosie laid her first egg on April 5 at 6:01 pm. Both ospreys got right to work, Rosie sitting on the egg and Richie flying in for a CK to assure a second egg. Airing the egg serves two purposes. First of all, on hot days and nights, the nest bowl can get hot. Secondly, exposing the egg to lower temperatures can retard its hatching, so that the three eggs hatch close together. If they don't, the third chick hatched is smaller, less developed, and subject to bullying by its siblings. Richie loves to incubate the eggs. He will land and nudge Rosie to let him take over. Sometimes she does, other times she resists his nudges, which can become more pronounced, until she relents or he gives up. An easy way to get his turn is to bring her a fish. He is a bit nervous when incubating and looks around a lot.
Egg Number 2 arrived on April 8 at 16:56. See the humorous interactions with Richie earlier that day, trying to help Rosie, who was getting ready to lay an egg. With two eggs in the nest, Richie decided a special gift was in order, so he brought a tree to Rosie. See the video by VA to enjoy the interactions with this tree. A still photo does not do it justice. Egg 3 finally arrived on April 11 at 8:42 pm after dark. Chatters had been watching and waiting for hours. then it arrived without fanfare. The white egg appears to be Egg #3. It can be hard to tell them apart as Rosie rolls them. Rosie's job now is to sit on the eggs and keep them warm, rolling them periodically and airing the nest bowl by rearranging the nest material. Richie's job is to give her a break once in a while by sitting on the eggs, a job he loves. And to bring her fish. This year, he seems to be lagging a bit in bringing her fish. He catches a fish, eats it first, then brings her the leftovers. While she doesn't need as many calories while sitting on the eggs, the hope is he will up his game once the eggs hatch. They also bring more materials to build up the nest or make the newt bowl softer. One persistent intruder keeps coming around but Rosie and Richie are adept at sending any intruders away. Richmond has not been bringing as many fish as in the past, but Rosie goes out to get her own when needed, while he egg sits, which he loves. He tends to fish, eat most himself then bring her the leftovers, which can be just a fishtail at times. One day though, he caught a great big striper, which fed them both a long time. Life on the nest right now is all about the eggs. Keeping them warm, turning them, aerating them, keeping them safe from intruders. The eggs are quite distinctive this year. The dark spotted one was the last laid. Both Rosie and Richie seem to like incubating. Each will nudge the other to move off the eggs to give them a turn. Richie is more alert while incubating, seeming nervous. It is his job, of course, to defend the nest. Rosie is more focussed on the eggs themselves and lies quietly and sleeps at night, while getting up periodically to air the nest bowl, turn the eggs or just check them. When not fishing, Richie is always nearby, keeping watch on the nest. If he spots a possible intruder or Rosie calls, he comes to the crane and he and Rosie work as a team to chase away the intruder. Other visitors to the nest are left alone, if they pose no threat. These are usually small birds. Fish, of course, are important to the osprey pair. Richie was slow to start providing this year, often keeping the fish he caught to himself, or bringing Rosie the tail only. There is the possibility that a lost rear talon may have made fishing harder for him and he caught fewer fish and needed more for himself. This is only a surmise by chatters at this point. At any rate, it appears that he is doing better now and bringing fish to Rosie. When he doesn't, she quite capably goes to catch one for herself, while he happily incubates the eggs. True partnership. She often takes her fish up to the strut, a protrusion from the crane. Then there are the quiet times. Nights have been quite restful this year so far. Often Rosie naps on the eggs in the late morning or afternoon. Richie spends less time on the nest this year, preferring the boom, where he can keep watch. After some speculation about Richie's possible leg injury and his less active fish providing to Rosie this year, an alert chatter noticed a missing talon. This talon is now growing back in but could have hampered his fishing ability. Eggspected hatch dates: 1. May 12-15; 2. May 13-16; 3. May 16-18. | The eggs were laid April 4, 8, and 11.
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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 six years. Archives
November 2022
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 |