Now that all three eggs have hatched, life settles down on the nest. The chart below shows what to expect in the chick's development. 

The first week or so is all about sleeping and eating. The chicks spend most of their time sleeping. When hungry or awakened, they crane their necks and open their beaks for food. Rosie, and sometimes Richie, provide them with little morsels of fish. When sated, they fall down in a stupor and Rosie covers them once more. At this point, they are still quite wobbly. Richie provides the fish and any necessary nesting materials. What he considers necessary is quite idiosyncratic and the source of much amusement to human chatters. Each year seems to have a theme. The first year was red things (except for purple Snakey), the second year teal, last year and this, dead things. This was the first year for a mammal carcass. 

As the chicks get older and stronger, the parents give them more air time, especially when the weather is clement. They will even leave them alone for a moment. But rest assured, there is always one adult close by to step in when necessary.

Before the eggs were laid and while they were incubating, Rosie and Richie would bring soft material such as eelgrass or other grass for the nest bowl. This made a soft bed for the hatching chicks. And supposedly, the bird and skunk carcasses made soft pillows. Now they begin to bring larger sticks to build crib rails. With Richie, however, one never knows what to expect. It is fun to watch them try to maneuver the large sticks into place. Less fun is the plastic that remains on the nest at this point.

Before the cam was set up, little was known about the ospreys' activities at night.. It was assumed that they stayed on the nest and slept. Now that there are chatters watching 24/7, we know more. Richie rarely sleeps on the nest but is nearby. When there are chicks, Rosie sleeps on the nest all night. But she awakens  several times during the night and may fly off to take a bathroom break or to stretch. With the chicks, she awakens and feeds them at night. 

By week 2, the chicks are beginning to grow down. This gives them a bumpy appearance and makes them itchy. They grow stronger and spend more time out in the air. They begin to stand up and move around the nest bowl. And they become more effective at feeding. This year, all three chicks are eating well. While the third chick, nicknamed Tres, is still smaller and less developed, it is getting in there for food and downs large bites. It has even been seen snatching a bite from its sibling. 

The cams are down temporarily due to radio malfunction. But on the nest, life goes on as usual. A few clips captured from the camera directly. Note the change in appearance as the chicks emerge from their dinosaur stage. There seems to have been less fighting among the three than in previous years, at least to this observer.
Photos are from May 26 in the afternoon, taken directly from the camera video. For the video, go to sfbayospreys youtube channel.

​Chick One has hatched! At 6:06 am on May 8. 

Chick Two has hatched!

A pip appeared in the early evening and chatters were eagerly watching. Nothing seemed to be happening that night, so one by one, chatters went to bed. A few were watching. But the chick emerged covered by its shell and no one saw it until morning. A check of the video feed showed that it hatched at 12:32 am on May 9. Now there are two mouths to feed and Richie has faithfully been providing fish.

Tony\ reported seeing Victory, a returning chick from 2018, by Pt. San Pablo. Happily, he was able to capture some pictures and video from his scope. Kudos to Tony\, our osprey expert, who keeps track of all osprey nests in this area. Victory is the second chick to return. The first was Rivet, who has been spotted once. Victory has two siblings, Roemer and Brisa, so we can hope to see them some day as well.
Once they have fledged, migrated and returned, ospreys have a 90% survival rate.

Chick Number 3 has arrived! 
A pip appeared around 9pm on May 10. Chatters watched through the night but couldn't see much. Rosie was hunkered down and there were few views of the chicks and egg. In the early morning light, chatters could see the pip was larger and at  9:26 am, the chick emerged. The chicks have various nicknames but Uno, Dos and Tres seem to have been chosen as temporary names. Chick number one was born at dawn, chick number two around midnight, and chick number three late morning. It has been suggested that this be taken into consideration for permanent names.(Sunrise, MIdnight and ?) We shall see.

This first week is all about sleeping and eating for the chicks. For Richie it's about providing fish and other material. And for Rosie, it's about keeping the chicks safe, warm and fed.

Right on schedule, Rosie laid her first egg on March 30 in the afternoon. With no fanfare, she lay in the nest bowl, fidgeted a bit and when she stood up, there was the egg. A number of chatters were there to witness the entire process. As was Richie, faithfully watching from the rail. He came over to see the egg and soon had his turn at lying on it briefly. 
​

There will be some questions. One commonly asked question is how long it takes to make and lay an egg. The following information is about chickens, but the idea remains the same:
Most birds' reproductive organs are shriveled until Springtime, when they swell. At a successful CK, an ovum is sucked into the beginning of the oviduct where it is fertilized. Then it's squeezed into an area called the magnum, where the eggwhite (albumin) is added. This takes several hours. then it moves on to the shell-membrane stage (about an hour) and on to the uterus, where it gets its shell and coloring (about 20 hours). 
Laying the egg takes only a few minutes, as can be seen in the video. The female is "pregnant" for about 24 hours. During this time, the female carries extra weight and is vulnerable, so she sticks close to the nest.
She may carry only one egg at a time, so a new CK is needed for the next egg. Keep watching!

Egg Number 2 hatched out April 2 at 2:06 pm. There were over 30 watchers. Every move Rosie made was noted. Richie brought her the rest of his fish but she wasn't interested. She just lay there a long time. Finally, the telltale rippling was observed, she stood up and there was egg #2, right on schedule.  Richie immediately took his turn incubating. Earlier in the day, the pair had been guarding against intruders quite a bit. The cam didn't show who these intruders were.
Watch for a third egg in a few days, perhaps Sunday.
 

Egg #3 arrived on April 5 in the afternoon. Again there were many watchers. The chatters have learned when an egg is imminent and avidly watch and comment. Richie was in attendance. The third egg was hard to see.

A few humorous pictures on the nest during egg laying time. 

Incubating 

Incubating is a quiet peaceful time. Rosie sits on the eggs and contemplates the world. Richie goes out fishing and when Rosie sees he has a fish, she calls for it, sometimes quite insistently. Just as insistent, when Richie delivers the fish, he demands his time on the eggs. Richie loves to incubate. Is this true of all male osprey?
Rosie takes this time to eat her fish and take a poop. She and Richie both step carefully around the eggs, curling their talons. They check the eggs at shift change. They also turn the eggs periodically and fluff up the nest bowl material. 
This year, the quiet has been punctured by more guard calls, as other ospreys fly by the nest. At first, there were ospreys trying to land on the nest; now they seem to just fly by. The area has become more crowded and there is now a nest on nearby Marker 16 with an osprey pair (now apparently abandoned). 
​Richie wanted to try for a fourth egg, but Rosie let him know that she was done with CK's for the year. 

​

​March 5
A different osprey was seen on the nest this morning. Chatters are in general agreement that this is Rosie. Comparisons were made to past photos (of which there are plenty) and past behavior. Richie went into a frenzy of bringing sticks and logs, mantling, attempting a CK and even scooching in the nest bowl. The female was calm, unlike Dlo. She watched quietly and let him mount her but didn't respond. They flew off at one point and there was a lot of guard call chirping, one osprey on the very top of the crane. 
​Note: March 5 is the date Rosie returned in 2017.

March 9  Rosie and Richie have settled into their usual routine. Richie faithfully brings fish to Rosie.If he is tardy, she is not shy about vocalizing her wants. There have been numerous CK's. One skirmish with an intruding female. And a bit of nestorating. Riche has brought quite a bit of red seaweed called Turkish Towel this year. The two spend a fair amount of time on the nest just standing and watching. A quiet, peaceful time for the most part. 

March 16
Life continues calmly and as usual with Richie and Rosie. Richie brings fish to Rosie (see fish chart below chat) and requests CK's. Both bring nesting material. So far no unusual presents this year. There did appear to be a black hose in the nest. 

 March 23-24
This year, Rosie and Richie have had to contend with more ospreys trying to intrude on their nest. This is probably due to the increase in the general osprey population. The couple defend their nest ably, as they have shown the past two days. One new development was a fish brought on a fly-by by a stranger osprey. Chatters have never witnessed this before. The nest is ready. They have not been bringing material but have done some nestorating.  Richie has not been bringing fish for some reason. Perhaps the windy weather? We don't know. They have been spending quite a bit of time off nest as well, although Rosie is often on the rail. And Richie is always ready for a CK. Egg laying time will soon be here! 

March 25-30 Chatters are eagerly awaiting the arrival of eggs. There have been plenty of seemingly successful CK's. Only time will tell which is the ultimately successful one. Richie and Rosie continue to prepare. They bring in soft nesting material which they pack into the nest bowl. Both participate in this, but it is Richie who, for some reason, looks comical when he does so. Richie faithfully brings fish to his mate. Information on the fish brought can be found in the Fish Matrix below chat. Viewers are encouraged to "call fish on chat when they see a fish brought to the nest or crane. Get your name in the Matrix! Rosie spends more time on the nest and sleeps there every night. She often moves around, from nest to rail to crane cable. 
One unfortunate event the other night. Rosie was sleeping on the rail when a Great Horned Owl flew at her. She ably defended herself and it left. Richie flew in to help. There have been no further incidents, but Rosie seemed especially watchful the next night, sitting awake on the cable for a long time. 

Feb. 17-23

The ospreys are returning. Chatters can see them flying around the nest. Richie is coming almost daily to the nest and has found some visitors. A female has come to the nest and there has been some mantling. We expect Rosie any day now. Feb. 23: the female has come the past three days. Richie attempted one CK.

Feb. 26

The young female has been coming regularly to the nest. Sometimes Richie joins her and mantles. sometimes she sits there alone. She seems more comfortable and calmer now. Everyone remarks on her beauty: prominent eyebrows and many speckles on her chest. Richie appears to be spending time at the RYC nest as well. Other signs of courtship are beginning, such as bringing nest material.

Meanwhile, everyone is watching for Rosie. For she is integral to the beginning of the season. Richie is always around, so we know what to expect from him. But Rosie is the big unknown, presumably staying in El Salvador or other Southern region, and returning each year around this time. Rosie, where are you? Richie is waiting, as are we all! In 2018, Rosie arrived on March 2 and in 2019 she arrived on Feb. 23, so we are still within that range. 

 Sightings of Richie this Winter, compiled by Robin
Also of Great Horned Owl visitors. Crows and ravens have also visited regularly. This year the gulls didn't come much. 

January visitors, all:

2020-0101. Wed. 8:58: Osprey 20 min
2020-0106. Mon. 11:43: Osprey 1.5 hr
2020-0108. Wed. 3:46: GHO 17 min
2020-0108. Wed. 8:18: Osprey 2 hr
2020-0109. Th. 10:40: Two ospreys 5 min
2020-0109. Th. 14:14: Osprey 30 min
2020-0110. Fri. 16:19 Osprey 12 min
2020-0115. Wed. 13:35 Osprey 1.4 hr
2020-0124. Fri. 12:23 Richie 3 min
2020-0124. Fri. 13:00 O w/ fish strut 55 min
2020-0125. Sat. 00:10 GHO 7 min
2020-0127. Mon. 2:25 GHO 72 min
2020-0130. Th. 12:15 Richie w/ fish 24 min
2020-0130. Th. 13:49 Richie w/ fish 17 min
2020-0130. Th. 16:39 O top of crane 6 min

 
2020 GHO (Great Horned Owl)  visitors only:
2020-0108. Wed. 3:46: GHO 17 min
2020-0125. Sat. 00:10 GHO 7 min
2020-0127. Mon. 2:25 GHO 72 min
2020-0206. Th. 22:44 GHO 2 min
2020-0215. Sat. 01:41 GHO in basement
 
 
February Osprey only: (marker 12 is the ship channel marker in the Bay across from the nest. It can be seen from the ATN camera)

2020-0206. Th. 9:06 Richie 3 min
2020-0215. Sat. 10:47 O on Mkr 12, 72 m+
2020-0216. Sun. 9:44 Richie nest defense 3 m+
2020-0216. Sun. 11:20 O on Mkr 12, 38 min
2020-0217. Mon. 13:52 O on Mkr 12 43 min
2020-0218. Tu. 6:56 O on upper cable 9 min
2020-0218. Tu. 7:40: Two O on nest 3 min
2020-0218. Tu. 7:44: O on top of crane 22 m
2020-0218. Tu. 8:15 O on upper cbl 2 min
2020-0218. Tu. O on Mkr 12 total 163 m
2020-0219: We. 6:45 O cable, nest, rail 30 min
2020-0219: We. 12:01 Female O on nest 6 min
2020-0219: We. O on Mkr 12 total 265+ min
2020-0219: We. O on tip of crane total 23 min
2020-0220. Th. 6:54 Female O on nest 16 min  
2020-0220. Th. O on Mkr 12 total 193+ min
2020-0220. Th. O on top of crane total 21 min
2020-0221. Fri. 10:41 Female O on nest 5 min
2020-0221. Fri. 10:49 Female O on nest 2 min
2020-0221. Fri. 11:53 Female O on nest 32 min
2020-0221. Fri. O on Mkr 12 total 91+ min
2020-0221. Fri. O top of crane 105 min
2020-0222. Sat. 7:05 Female O on nest 55 min
2020-0223. Sun. 6:50 3 CK attempts with new O
2020-0223. Sun. 7:23 Female O on nest 32 min
2020-0223. Sun. 11:04 Stick to crane top
2020-0223. Sun. Os on top of crane 50 min
2020-0223. Sun. 18:28 Two O on RYC nest ? min.
2020-0224. Mon. 9:20 Female O on nest 7 min
2020-0224. Mon. 13:50 Female O on nest 1 min
2020-0224. Mon. O on top of crane 42 min
2020-0224. Mon. Os were on RYC nest often
2020-0225. Tu.    Female O on nest 28 min
2020-0225. Tu.   Os top of crane 109 min
2020-0225. Tu.   Os in RYC nest 165 min

 
Fish: See the Fish Matrix under the cam view: 4 fish have already been logged for this year, all brought to the crane but not the nest. Richie (or other osprey) has also been seen quite often on Marker 12 eating a fish. There is no need to bring the  fish to the nest without a mate or chicks there. 

A female nicknamed Delilah took up residence on the nest in late February. She was stunning, with dark eyebrows and a full speckled chest. She also appeared to be young and inexperienced. Richie mantled to her but didn't cater to her as much as he does to Rosie. He brought an occasional fish, one an oddly stiff one, and some nest material. Dlo, as she was then named, paid no attention to the nest material. She was apparently not ready for nesting. Later, there were some air battles with three or four ospreys involved. And when Rosie arrived March 5, there was a brief skirmish, then Rosie settled in and Dlo has not been seen. 

I was thinking one day of the daily life of an osprey and how the daily pattern changed throughout the year. I thought how different this was from human's daily patterns, then I had an insight. The patterns are the same, based on the biology of reproducing and raising progeny. The difference is in the timing. While humans take many years to raise a family, the osprey pattern is compressed into a year. What humans do once, ospreys do every year for up to 20 years.
Rosie and Richie's year starts with Rosie's return to the nest. They get to know each other again, copulate (CK or cloacal kiss is used by chatters as shorthand). Richie re-establishes the connection by bringing Rosie fish and other presents. They both bring sticks, grass and other items to prepare the nest for the chicks. After a few weeks of this, Rosie lays the eggs, usually three. This happens in the space of a week, each egg one to two days after the previous. Now Rosie spends more time on the nest, incubating. Richie does some incubating too and also continues to bring fish. Rosie takes some breaks to fly off for a poop or even to catch her own fish. After 34+ days, the chicks hatch. Rosie is more restless during this period, although she stays on the nest. This is much like the newly wed humans, at first into themselves as a couple then focussed on the coming baby, setting up the nursery. 
Once the chicks hatch, Rosie stays on the nest to brood and to feed them. Richie ups his game bringing fish. It is mostly Rosie who feeds but Richie does some. He does not brood much. The chicks sleep, eat and poop. As does the human baby, while the mother nurses it and the father tries to help, sometimes needing a helpful nudge from the mother. What is it she really wants?
The chicks grow quickly and the parents build up the nest to keep their offspring safe. They also warn off all intruders. Put up baby gates and lock the door? Screen visitors? Sometimes the chicks/children squabble, establishing a pecking order, but as they mature, this fighting stops. All too soon, the offspring are ready to try their wings, the human children figuratively, the birds in reality. They make some attempts then one day they fly but many return to the nest for meals, after spending the day with friends. Remember Brisa and Rivet screaming, "I'm home! Where's my fish?" Or a teenager slamming the door, "I'm home, what's for supper?"
Then they truly fledge, fly off to establish their own lives. They live a few years independently,  associating with other young ones like themselves, learning to be an adult. They may stop by home, asking to stay for a while, but their parents tell them they have left the nest. And one day, they find a mate, build a nest, and the cycle starts all over again. 
Sound familiar?
Now, imagine raising a family once a year instead of once in a lifetime!

The chatters and lurkers of the Whirley Crane have witnessed this cycle three times now and are on their fourth year of watching. Each year, there have been more watchers and more documentation. I have tried in my posts to summarize these in text and caps both as memory for the long timers and as an overview for newcomers. Please let me know how this can be improved to meet your needs. And thanks to all who let me use their wonderful caps and gifs. Thanks to craigor and Robin who do so much for the cam. And of course, thanks to the GGAS and all the essential people-Cindy, Tony\, Moderator John who make all this possible! 

​


Facts and Figures in Nuce
This is information particular to "our" birds. For more general information, consult Alan F. Poole's two books. 
For a more detailed report and photos, see individual themed posts.

​Banding:

Name                       Band                Date              Bird Weight          Likely Gender (based on weight)

Whirley                      WB                  6/16/17           1583                     male?    deceased
Rivet                          ZR                   6/16/17           1618                     male    seen at SF Bay May 2019
 
Roemer                   VW                   6/21/18            1600                      male
Victory (Vic)             VU                    6/21/18            1530                      male  seen at Pt. San Pablo May 2020
Brisa                        VV                    6/21/18            1876                      female

Peace-up                 WP                   6/15/19            1495                      male   deceased     
Kiskasit                     ZK                   6/15/19            1600                      female


Information provided by Tony Brake, our resident osprey expert and "caretaker" of the East Bay osprey nests.

Whirley died after an early fledging in the early morning. She was found and fished out of the Bay by Dutra Dredging and taken to Wildcare but could not be saved.

Peace-up (WP) was found after falling from a tree in Corte Madera on Oct. 1, 2019. He was buried onsite on private land. Authorities could not examine the body to find the cause of death.  

Rivet and Victory have been seen in the area.                             

SF Bay Ospreys | Videos, Links compiled by Robin
(Sorry, I can't post links)

In 2017, Golden Gate Audubon set up live stream cameras to watch ospreys Rosie and Richmond, who nest on a Whirley crane in Pt Richmond, CA. Below are videos related to the nest, and other links that you may find
helpful. Post suggestions for other information to be included on the Live Chat at www.sfbayospreys.org.

Videos
Most videos are on GGAS YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gn6yIRa_cBKExVmHdg3jQ
Some older videos are on Tony\'s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ajbrake48/videos
Some videos from 2017 are on the Archives page: www.sfbayospreys.org/archives
2017
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/skHiNDkxy-g
Egg 2 laid: http://sfbayospreys.org/170404-second-egg-laying-slo-mo-kcrt/
Egg 3, storm just before power outage: https://youtu.be/R8L7T229K94
Hatch 1:
Hatch 2: https://youtu.be/-wgIkp46RJs
Fledge 1 (WB Whirley):
Fledge 2 (ZR) Rivet:
Rosie last seen: https://youtu.be/ 7BSJqHU2LHc
2018
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/nm7_-UioZK8
Egg 2 laid: https://youtu.be/SVaLGUisDwU
Egg 3 laid: power was out
Hatch 1: https://youtu.be/JAiVZc8hxcg
Hatch 2: https://youtu.be/5GkXsKcBDDM
Hatch 3: https://youtu.be/N2Y6VtkOy88
Fledge 1 (VW Roemer):
Fledge 2 (VU Victory):
Fledge 3 (VV Brisa):
2019
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/DH1CHIIV2QM
Egg 2 laid: https://youtu.be/K68Mlltxmos
Egg 3 laid: https://youtu.be/nKzw7RNEoSE
Hatch 1: https://youtu.be/vL5IqDGRfgg
Hatch 2: https://youtu.be/eKqQaMfrTBY
Hatch 3: https://youtu.be/INGMb22jHGg
Fledge 1 (WP Peace-up): https://youtu.be/HHOtGCqW8yQ and https://youtu.be/ddoD_ZHgm6w
Fledge 2 (ZK Kiskasit): https://youtu.be/OpTttHP-U-Q and https://youtu.be/uMZHznZvk2g