Part 1: Season 2022. Waiting for Rosie

Osprey on the nest. Richie?January 30 2022 cap by craigor

The osprey season is ramping up. Ospreys have been seen flying around the area and perched in familiar spots, such as the light poles. On January 30, an osprey landed on the Whirley Crane nest. It looked around, mantled a bit tentatively then was chased off by another osprey.Some chatters thought it was Richie, other that it was probably a younger osprey trying out the nest and being chased off by Richie, who was keeping watch nearby. 
For more information, see the video caught by VA, on the Youtube channel. 

Richie? on cable. Feb. 1, 2022 12:48 pm cap by midi

Sunset January 16, 2022 cap by midi

osprey and crow on crane. Jan. 31. cap by J

Same sunset a few seconds later capped by craigor

Midi likes to call this sun path Rosie's Way, for her to follow to the nest. Capped by midi Jan. 28, 2022

And midi calls these fairy sparkles, used in her Osprey Nest book. Capped Jan 28, 2022, unknown capper.

Richie on the crane Feb. 5 2022 cap by craigor

Richie? on the crane Feb. 6, 2022. cap by PP

Richie is coming to the crane almost daily now and has begun chirping for Rosie. On Feb. 8, he flew to the nest as well for a few minutes. Rosie is presumably already on her way. 

Feb. 20: The ospreys are returning. Chatters on the ground have reported ospreys flying above the RYC nest. Pairing off, perhaps? They report seeing ospreys on light poles, on the wires, and on the nest briefly. At least some of the sightings have been of Richie. He seems to be visiting the area every day, making a brief visit to the nest, sitting on the ROV wires or by the Dutra slip, and eating fish. There is some disagreement about whether all sightings have been of Richie or other ospreys. A striking female visited the nest briefly and was chased off by the raven pair, who have been dismantling the nest, flying off with sticks, presumably to build their own nest. Who was that female? So far, no banded offspring have been sighted. And Rosie still has not returned. Watch for her any day now! For more detail, see the GGAS Youtube site for short videos of visitors to the nest.

Richie? on cable. Feb. 18, photo by Chaya from the ground.

Raven attacking unknown female Feb. 18 cap by PP

Richie on the nest Feb. 17, 2022. cap by robin

Unknown female on nest Feb. 18. cap by craigor

Maggie and Jester Ravens dismantling the osprey nest. Feb. 18, cap by PP.

Richie's brief visit to the nest on the morning of Feb. 20. cap by craigor.

Note the identification marks here: black stripe above eye, black patch at front of head. black dot under wing. 

While you're waiting and watching, here are some past photos of Rosie's return and a song for her and Richie

Rosie's Returns

2017  March 5
2018  March 2
2019  Feb. 23
2020  March 5
2021  Feb. 18 
          2022. ???                

Rosie returns. Feb. 18, 2021. still from VA video

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Rosie on cable. Feb. 18, 2021. gif by J

Richie and DLo on the nest, Feb. 29, 2020. cap by J Sadie Hawkins Day!

Richie and Rosie. March 5, 2020. gif by J

In 2020, another female got to the nest before Rosie. Named DLo by the chatters, she stayed a while until Rosie arrived on March 5 and booted her off the nest. 

Rosie and Richie. March 5, 2020. cap by midi.

Rosie returns Feb. 23, 2019. capped from video by GGAS

Richie brings plastic for Rosie on her second day, Feb. 24. cap by J

A fish for Rosie. Feb. 24

Rosie on the rail. Feb. 24, 2019. cap by SaMo

March 2, 2018 Rosie Flies in on a Rainbow

An osprey flew to the crane, 
Early one Spring Day.
Sat and chirped in the misting rain,
All the livelong day.

"Rosie, Rosie, my mate,
Where are you today?"
How much longer must I wait?
Are you on your way?"

When the hour had grown late, 
So dark he could not see,
And he had not seen his mate,
He flew to the RYC.

​"Rosie, Rosie, my mate,
Where are you tonight?
I am waiting here for you
Until the morning light."

Late the next day, from the west,
In Rosie flew.
She flew straight to the nest,
To find her Richie true.

"Richie, Richie, my mate,
I am now here.
But it is growing late,
Are you somewhere near?"

Richie, fishing o'er the Bay,
Heard her loud and clear,
So he flew straight away
To his Rosie dear.

"Rosie, here I come,
To you I will be true.
We can build ourselves a nest,
And raise a family too."

Now we eagerly await
A New Osprey Year.
Watch for the couple to mate,
Eggs and chicks appear. 

Rosie, Richie too,
Our own osprey,
We are glad to see you,
Welcome back today!

midi
​

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
​I heard an osprey on the nest singing to his mate.
"Oh, Rosie, where are you? Are you on your way?
​Won't you please come back to me today?"

​Then Richie took off, to his other nest he flew,
Spent the night there with his lover fair.
"Maybe I'll stay right here, next to you, my dear,
For my mate Rosie is nowhere near."

Early the next evening, just as the sun was setting,
​An osprey flew to the nest, looking for her mate.
​She chirped,"Richie,my mate,Richie,where are you?
Won't you return to this nest and be true?"

So Richie flew back to the Whirley Crane nest,
To find his loyal mate and to her be true.
She soon lay three eggs, just as pretty as could be,
​And soon they were raising a family. 

(a favorite tune of midi, played on recorder by The Friendly Giant on TV in the 50's.)
​

Come home Rosie, Rosie come home
Come home Rosie, Rosie come home
Every autumn Rosie flies to southern grounds
and you know, Richie, he never follows her down.
Rosie we don’t care what nature makes you do
‘cause we want you to come home and Richie does too.
And so we sing now
Come home Rosie, Rosie come home
Come home Rosie, Rosie come home
Rosie, Richie needs to see your speckled chest
Rosie lay your eggs into your and Richie’s nest
Rosie hang your talons down, into our view.
Richie bring your mate some fish and some sticks too
And so we sing now
Come home Rosie, come home, come home!
So come home Rosie, home home, come home!
Well make it, make it, make it Rosie!
We make it, make it, make it -- yeah!!
Come, home, come home!!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!
Come home Rosie, Rosie come HOME
Come Home Rosie, Rosie come Home

​

Rosie, we are waiting and watching for you!