 The Whirley Crane as seen from the ground. Photo by Midi |  The Whirley Crane as seen from the road , looking toward the East Bay. Photo by Midi |
All of the following photos are caps from the Osprey cam, operated by the GGAS and are the property of the GGAS.
 Morning on the nest |  Evening on the nest |
The osprey nest atop the historic Whirley Crane in Pt. Richmond is prime real estate. As they say in the world of realty: location, location, location. For this nest is built on a crane that is unused and part of the Historic Red Oak Victory site. Thus it is protected. It is fenced in so that vandalism is less likely. It is right at the water but not on it, so it is protected from ships, waves and other water activity. And it has a view that is unparalleled. There are other beautiful osprey nests, with forest views, but this one is unique. When the ospreys are nowhere to be seen, the viewer can gaze at the Bay, at Brooks Island, at the city in the distance. The sunrises are spectacular. The sunsets are not bad either.
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Unlike other nests, the view from this nest is ever-changing. There are foggy days, when ghost ships pass, there are rainy days when one views through a glass darkly, and there are sunny days when the crane sparkles. The regular group of chatters likes to wax creative, exclaiming over the sunrise angel and the harbor fairy sparkles.
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There is always activity around the nest. Situated at the working port, there are workers' cars coming and going, the volunteers and visitors to the historic ship Red Oak Victory, and the spanking new cars driving off the car ships that are moored nearby. Bayside, one can see birds, the occasional seal, the changing tides, and boats of all kinds. There is never a dull moment. Even in the dark of night, a raccoon may be spotted by a sharp-eyed viewer.
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But let us not forget that this is a bird nest. In the absence of ospreys, other birds visit. In early 2018, the gulls were regular visitors. They seemed to use the nest as a resting point and a lookout. So far, they have been mostly absent this year, but perhaps they will return in early 2019. The ravens and crows, on the other hand, use it this year and last, as a buffet. They dig deep into the nest to pry out leftovers from the osprey meals. Dried pieces of fish are a delicacy.
But where are the osprey? Cindy Margulis, director of GGAS, has expressed it clearly: the nest for the ospreys is a nursery not a home. The osprey home is the sky, they roost at night wherever they might be, in Richmond or in Mexico or South America. The nest is where they mate, lay eggs and incubate. It is where they raise their chicks until those chicks fledge. Once the young have fully fledged and can feed themselves, there is no more use for the nest. The fledglings migrate, Rosie migrates too, and Richie finds sheltered places to roost at night and convenient perches for fishing during the day. He makes an occasional visit to the nest to defend it from other ospreys and claim it as his own. As the days lengthen after Winter Solstice, he begins to visit the nest more often, preparing for the day his mate Rosie returns. But that is the subject for another post. Meanwhile, we can enjoy our views from the nest, watching sunrises and sunsets; enjoying gulls, crows, ravens and even an occasional finch; and, like Richie, anticipating the return of Rosie and the beginning of a new osprey season.
But where are the osprey? Cindy Margulis, director of GGAS, has expressed it clearly: the nest for the ospreys is a nursery not a home. The osprey home is the sky, they roost at night wherever they might be, in Richmond or in Mexico or South America. The nest is where they mate, lay eggs and incubate. It is where they raise their chicks until those chicks fledge. Once the young have fully fledged and can feed themselves, there is no more use for the nest. The fledglings migrate, Rosie migrates too, and Richie finds sheltered places to roost at night and convenient perches for fishing during the day. He makes an occasional visit to the nest to defend it from other ospreys and claim it as his own. As the days lengthen after Winter Solstice, he begins to visit the nest more often, preparing for the day his mate Rosie returns. But that is the subject for another post. Meanwhile, we can enjoy our views from the nest, watching sunrises and sunsets; enjoying gulls, crows, ravens and even an occasional finch; and, like Richie, anticipating the return of Rosie and the beginning of a new osprey season.
The Whirley Crane is so important and has such a character of its own, that it has its own song: The melody is from The Old Sod Shanty.
The Nest's Lament
I'm looking rather messy now, while sitting on my crane.
The osprey have all flown off again.
The crows they come to clean me and the gulls, they come to rest,
But I am still a lonely osprey nest.
Oh, my branches are all falling, and the eel grass is all wet.
I have not seen an osprey fly in yet.
But I am still on the crane through the winter rain,
And I know I'll soon see the osprey again.
For I am an osprey nest, I am an osprey nest,
As long as I am on the crane,
They'll love me the best,
And I'll forever be their osprey nest.
-Midi
I'm looking rather messy now, while sitting on my crane.
The osprey have all flown off again.
The crows they come to clean me and the gulls, they come to rest,
But I am still a lonely osprey nest.
Oh, my branches are all falling, and the eel grass is all wet.
I have not seen an osprey fly in yet.
But I am still on the crane through the winter rain,
And I know I'll soon see the osprey again.
For I am an osprey nest, I am an osprey nest,
As long as I am on the crane,
They'll love me the best,
And I'll forever be their osprey nest.
-Midi
Meme by Craigor Summer 2017
The nest is getting a present from the GGAS. A new device attached to the nest cam will now clean the lens so that the chicks' misfires are cleared off. Of course, that means no more creative graffiti by Rivet (ZR) and others. They'll have to find other ways of expressing themselves.
 Rivet's Signature Z |  Craigor's graffiti |