Rosie has Arrived!
March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023
Rosie landing on the nest upon arrival cap by watcher
After days of cold and rain, Rosie flew in at 4:09 pm on March 1, 2023, a cold but sunny day. She immediately chased off an ospsrey intruder then the raven that was hassling her, reclaiming her nest.
 Raven on nest. 4:46pm. on March 1. cap by midi |  Rosie arguing with the raven 4:43 pm. cap by midi |
Rosie making herself at home on the rail. March 1, 2023. 4:41 pm. Look at those big feet! cap by watcher
Sunset on the day of Rosie's return 6:26 pm. cap by midi
Rosie and Richie quickly reunited to spend the night together on the ROV wires. All is right in Whirley Crane land.
Richie and Rosie on the ROV wires. 6:40 pm. March 1, 2023. cap by midi
March 2: Rosie and Richie seem to have connected and spent the night together. Both were sighted today on the light poles by chatters on site. Rosie was eating a fish.
 Rosie on light pole. PHoto by Toaster 28. March 2, 2023 |  Osprey on light pole. Photo by Toaster 28. March 2, 2023. |
March 3: Rosie and Richie were spotted on the light poles. Rosie was eating a fish at one point. An unknown female came to the nest briefly and was chased off by the raven. The ravens are apparently building a nest on the boom of the crane and are asserting control over the nest.
Ospreys are returning elsewhere as well. A pair was sighted at the Richmond Yacht Club nest and at the Wharf Street nesst.
Ospreys are returning elsewhere as well. A pair was sighted at the Richmond Yacht Club nest and at the Wharf Street nesst.
 Osprey on the light pole 3-3-23. 11:31 am. cap by craigor  Quick visit to the nest by an unknown female osprey 3-3-23. 11:46 am. cap by midi |  Two ospreys on the same light pole 3-3- 23. 5:30 pm. cap by Dk  Chased off by the raven. 11:49 am. cap by midi |
March 4: Rosie and Richie are spending quite a bit of time together, getting to know each other again. they have been observed eating fish but we have not seen Richie bring a fish to Rosie. Rosie and Richie both spent time on the nest. Then they shooed off the ravens and the crows. The ravens who like to think they own the nest and indeed, appear to be building a nest on the upper end of the crane.
 Rosie on the rail 3 4 23 9:32 am. cap by J |  Richie and Rosie on the ROV wires 3 4 23. 8pm. cap by Robin |
March 6- The ravens are actively building a nest high on the boom, in a protected area. Rosie has been chasing them off but rather half-heartedly. She and Richie are still in the getting reacquainted mode and not very territorial yet. The ravens brazenly land on the nest as though they own it.
 Raven's nest. March 6, 2023. cap by watcher. |  Raven on the nest. March 6, 2023. 12:46 pm. |
Peregrine falcon on the crane. March 6 2023, 10 am. Cap by Dianne A.
To add to the confusion, a peregrine falcon landed on the crane and tussled with the ravens. The falcon left.
One high, one low. Night of March 6, at 10:10 pm. cap by midi.
March 7: Much the same today. Richie and Rosie spotted on the light poles, at one point eating fish. Rose brought in a reddish fish, possibly a goldfish?
Rosie bringing in a red fish. Still cap by PP from VA video. March 7, 10:23 am.
March 8: The weather was better today and Richie and Rosie were active, sitting on the light poles, flying and even coming briefly to the nest.
 Two on the light pole March 8, 2023, 12:38 pm, cap by Dinnae ken.  Rosie on the rail March 8, 2023. 11:10 am. cap by watcher |  Rosie on the rail March 8, 2022 11 am, cap by Benjamin  Stick brought to the nest March 8, 2023. 10:16 am. cap by Dinnae ken  Followed by Jseter's loud complaint cap by Dinnae ken. |
And Jester stealing the stick for his own nest on the crane's boom. cap by watcher.
March 8-10. While the ravens continue to build their nest on the Whirley Crane boom, and the gulls visit the nest proper, the osprey action is all on the light poles. On March 10, Richie and Rosie were sighted both apart and together on the poles ,watching and eating. And there was one attempted CK by Richie. The action is best viewed from the ground, in person. So come down to the nest if you get a chance. If you are too far away, there are chatters who go down there and post photos and videos on the chat
 Gull on nest preening. Still picture from video by VA , March 9, 2023. |  Two gulls on the nest, still picture take from video by VA.March 9, 2023 |
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| Rosie? eating a fish on the light pole. March 11, 2023 video by Toaster28 March 10-12 The action continues to be on the light poles while the crows build a nest on the crane.  Both on the same pole. March 11, 2023. photo by Toaster28  Corvids and peregrine falcon. March 11, 2023. At night, Richie and Rosie usually sleep on the ROV wires, sometimes close together, other times farther apart. In inclement weather they seek refuge elsewhere.  Rosie flying with a striped bass, being harassed by a crow. March 15, 2023. Photo by Dianne A. With the cams down due to high winds blowing down the electric poles on Canal Blvd. we had to rely on our BOTG (boots on the ground) reporters to tell us what was going on. And they delivered! Rosie and Richie were seen on separate light poles then on the same one briefly until both flew off to go fishing. They seemed to be fishing over by the sandbar. Rosie returned with a large striped bass and spent a long time eating it.  Osprey on the light pole 3 15 23 photo by Dianne A  Osprey (Rosie?) with fish. March 15, 2023. photo by Dianne A  Rosie with her bloody striper. March 15, 2023. Photo by chaya.  Probably Richie on a different light pole. Marcy 15, 2023, photo by chaya.  Rosie finally settled on a lightpole by the Richmond Yacht Club to eat her fish in peace. March 15, 2023. photo by Dianne A There has been some discussion about proper terminology. The cam is for all and one must find a balance between scientific terms and terms that are understood by the general public. In biology, the term CK refers to the two birds' cloacae actually making contact and presumably transferring semen. Of course, human observers can never really be sure when this happens, just note the signs, such as the female's receptive raised tail. According to Tony\ Brake, the correct term for any attempted but not necessarily successful CK is copulation. This can be confusing as it it not necessarily how the layperson understands it. At the moment, the chat group as a whole has adopted ACK, attempted CK, though some prefer to follow the scientific terminology. For more information, see https://ospreytaleteller.com/2014/04/07/the-cloacal-kiss/  Attempted CK on the nest March 17, 2023. cap by Toaster 28.  Rosie on the light pole 3 17 23. photo by midi  Richie on the other light pole 3 17 23 photo by midi March 20: The cams are still down so we can't see everything that Rosie and Richie are doing, but our local chatters faithfully visit the nest and report back. It appears that the ravens have abandoned the nest they built on the boom of the crane and have relocated back to their light pole. Meanwhile, Rosie and Richie seem to have reclaimed the crane and are busy preparing the nest. They have been seen bringing sticks to the sheave and then to the nest.  Rosie getting a stick from the sheave March 19 2023. photo by Toaster28  Rosie on the rail. March 21, 2023. cap by watcher March 23: The action has moved more toward the nest. Richie and Rosie spend time on the light poles and usually eat their fish there. But they are coming to the nest. Richie stays up on the pulley while Rosie has been sitting on the rail of the nest. She calls to Richie for fish but seems to be catching fish for herself. On March 23, two observers on the ground watched Richie bring a fish to the nest then be chased off by the ravens. The gulls and ravens have been more aggressive this year. But the ravens did abandon their nest on the crane and seem to have nested on the light pole where they were last year. Meanwhile, Rosie and Richie moved toward the nest.  ACK on the rail. March 23, 2023. cap by watcher.  Rosie on the nest March 23, 2023, 6:05 pm. cap by PP.  Incoming stick. March 23, 2023. photo by Toaster28. March 25: Rosie and Richie are spending more time around the nest, although they tend to do their eating on the light poles. Rosie, especially, sits quite a bit on the nest rail. She also seems to be bringing all the sticks. So far the nest is rather haphazardl placed sticks, which are stored first on the sheave. Richie brought fish to the nest today.  Rosie on the rail March 25, 2023. 5:14 pm cap by calneva  Rosie on the nest 3 25 23. 2:20 pm cap by watcher  Rosie takes off after an intruder 3 25 23. 2:04 pm cap by watcher A funny look at Richie poking up behind Rosie taken by VA on March 23, 2023 March 27: A pattern has set in, but not one to Rosie's liking. Richie goes off fishing in the morning and catches a fish, then eats it on a light pole. Rosie comes to the nest and calls for her share but Richie does not bring her any. Sometimes, he comes to the nest, but empty taloned. Occasionally there is an ACK (attempted CK). During the day, they may bring a stick or two and store it on the sheave. There is little active nest building going on.  Rosie on the cables March 27, 2023 at 10:15 am, cap by midi Rosie flies off after an intruder. March 25, 2023. 2:04 pm. cap by watcher One has to wonder what role, if any, Richie's broken talon plays in his behavior this year. Is it harder to catch fish so that he can only provide for himself? Increased intruder interruptions? Is he less able to defend himself now? Or are there other reasons? Is he just not ready to the commitment yet this season? Humans can only watch and conjecture.  Close-up of Richmond's injured talon March 25 2023. cap by watcher Meanwhile the nest is a mess. Sticks are stored on the sheave, one presumes to be placed later on the nest, and a few sticks are placed haphazardly on the nest. No real nest building has gone on. The weather has played a role, several stormy days each week, with heavy winds and rain, but on the sunny days, the two ospreys don't do much either. March 30:The action has moved to the sheave on the crane, where Richie and Rosie have been stockpiling sticks for a while. Today was the first sunny day in a while and both ospreys got busy brining sticks. Our BOTG (boots on the ground) got some great shots of sticks being flown in. The two birds spent more time together too. But Rosie still appears to be feeding herself, instead of the usual pattern where the male brings fish to the female.  Stick being flown in. March 30, 2023, 1:38 pm. cap by watcher.  Crane shot showing where they are nesting and where Rosie likes to perch. March 30, 2023, chaya.  Both on the boom. March 30, 2023. 12:34 pm. cap by watcher The evening of March 30, a raccoon was seen climbing to the nest and up the crane.  Raccoon. May 30, 2023. 8:15 pm. cap by craigor April 1- With a day of sunny weather, Rosie and Richie really got going today, bringing stick after stick to their new nest. It appears that they have decided on the sheave location for their nest, although Rosie seems to like to sit on the rail still by the other nest. Today the nest started to take shape, with a real nest bowl. And the pair spent more time together. With this development, we are ever more dependent on our boot on the ground chatters, who take great photos and videos onsite to share.  The new nest. 4-1-23. 12:27pm. cap by PP.  The nest bowl. 4-1-23. 11:57 am. cap by watcher  RnR on the ROV wires at night. March 31, 2023. cap by benjamin April 4: Rosie and Richie seem to have chosen the sheave nest as their nest for this year. Both have been bringing sticks there.But Rosie likes to spend time on the rail as is her wont. And both can be seen on the old nest at times. The new nest is fully formed, with a nest bowl and both birds seem to fit, although it is not as spacious as the old nest. We can only wait and see.  RnR on the old nest. April 2, 2023. 132pm. cap by wathcer  Both on the sheave April 2, 2023, 9:58 am. cap by midi  Bringing a stick. April 2, 2023. 2:45 p. cap by watcher Crow harassing Rosie eating fish on a light pole April 2? 2023 They seem to be eating mostly on the light pole, with each catching their own fish. But a few fish have made it to the nest. For information on these, see the Fish Matrix. April 5: With nice weather today, Rosie got busy repairing the damage done to the sheave nest by the previous winds. She had a fish too, apparently caught by herself. Richie has not been doing much.  Rosie brings fluff for the nest. 4 5 23. cap by watcher.  Rosie on the sheave nest. April 5, 2023. 1:13 pm. cap by PP  Rosie eating a fish Richie brought. April 8, 2023. taken from a video by Toaster28.  The nest on the pulley/sheave. April 8, 2023. cap by watcher April 9: With the continued warm, sunny weather, our two ospreys are getting back in the groove. Richie is delivering fish, there sas an ACK today, and they are spending more time together on the new sheave nest. Rosie also spent quite a bit of time on the rail, her old spot.  Both on the sheave nest 1:20 pm 4 9 23. cap by midi  ACK on rail. 4 9 23. 5:14 pm. cap by viewer  The nest as seen from below. 4 9 23. cap by watcher Chatters all love Rosie and she has been photogenic lately.  Rosie collage by Absent Corvid. 4 9 23  Both on the new nest. April 11, 2023.12:04 pm. cap by Chappy  Rosie on the nest.. April 12, 2023. 7:21 pm. cap by midi April 13-18: Rosie and Richie are in a pattern now. They have chosen their nest and are working hard to make it suitable for chicks. Every day they bring sticks and materials for the nest bowl.Richie has started bringing fish to Rosie, although she also catches her own. The crows and ravens continue to harass the ospreys but they defend themselves without trouble. Rosie is spending more and more time on the nest itself, although she takes her fish to the strut to eat. Richie is spending time on the nest as well. There have been frequent ACK's (i.e.mating). Chatters think an egg in imminent. It may be hard to see an egg with this new nest and a limited view but the camera operators are doing their best to show the next close-up.  Both on the nest. April 14, 2023. cap by AbsendtCorvid  Rosie with a fish on the strut. April 13, 2023. cap by seabiscuit  Quiet time on the nest. Aril 16, 2023, 5:29 pm. cap by midi  Side by Side. April 16, 2023. 7:3 5pm. cap by watcher.  Corvid harassment. April 16, 2023. cap by watcher  Rosie brings fluff for the nest bowl. April 17, 2023. cap by watcher April 18-20: Richie and Rosie are staying close to their new nest, the upper one. They bring in sticks and soft nesting materials and they bring in fish. Sometimes, Richie delivers, other times, Rosie fetches her own. She likes to eat her fish on the strut. The corvids continue to harass the ospreys when they are eating but appear to be no real threat. Rosie spends more time sitting on the nest and there have been more ACK's, some of which appear to be successful, so chatters are hopeful that an egg will soon appear.  Incoming stick. From Toaster's video, April 18, 5:34 pm.  Intruder/Visiting juvenile? on lower nest, tolerated by Richie and watched by Rosie who is on the loser nest. April 19, 2023 10:23 am. cap by midi  Quiet time on the rail for the pair. April 19, 2023, 10"08 am, cap by midi  Rosie and a gull harasser. April 20, 2023. cap by watcher  Richmond flies in. 3:39 pm. April 21, 2023. cap by watcher Egg has hatched! Go to the next chapter for more information and to the GGAS Youtube channel.  There is a new game afoot among the WWOC/chatters. Whenever a fish is seen caught by Richie or Rosie ,either the chatter who spies it or PP makes up a little song. This was started by PP, who created an annex to the Fish Matrix for fish that don't make it to the nest. Each fish noted gets a little song. Fish brought to the nest will continue to be logged by our Fish Matrix Master craigor. Toaster 28's fish song: Fountains fountains everywhere! Ponds of water I declare! ] Fishy fishy wishy wish, Where did Rosie catch her fish? Goldfish color is the best I will bring you to the Nest. Rosie’s goldfish can’t be beat We will now have lots to eat Lots of goldfish for us now So let Rosie take a bow Fish for me, fish for you I will share my source with you. Fountains fountains everywhere Ponds of water I declare! Fishy fishy wishy wish This is where I catch goldfish! Toaster28 | Attempted CK Rosie and Richie. March 11, 2023 video by Toaster28 Richie and Rosie can be seen on separate light poles, often calling to each other, and sometimes eating a fish, or occasionally together. There have been a few attempted CK's.  Attempted CK on a light pole March 11, 2023. cap by Lee  Raven nest on the crane. 3 12 2023. cap by watcher  Rosie and Richie sleeping near each other at night. March 11, 2023. cap by midi March 13: Richie and Rosie were on the light poles most of the day. But Rosie did pay one quick visit to the nest, bringing a stick. She chirped and looked around. When nobody answered, she flew off with the stick. Is she trying to get Richie to help her build the nest? Video of Rosie flying and being harassed by a crow. Photo by Dianne A March 15, 2023. March 16: The weather was better today, warmer and sunny. And the ospreys responded. Rosie was seen delivering a stick to the crane and Richie attempted a CK on the nest.  Attempted CK on the nest. From video by Toaster28, March 16, 2023.  Rosie with a stick. March 16, 2023. photo by Dianne A.  Stick delivery to the sheave. March 16, 2023 photo by Toaster28. Attempted CK on the sheave March 16, 2023. video by Toaster28.  Intruder coming to the sheave where Richie and Rosie are already. March 16, 2023 from video by Toaster 28  Rosie and Richie on the wires of the ROV late afternoon of March 17, 2023 In the late afternoon of March 17, midi was at the nest. She saw Richie and Rosie on the wires of the ROV. Then they both flew off and seemed to be fishing in the ship channel. Midi walked along Canal Blvd. and soon saw Richie on one light pole eating a fish and a bit farther along she saw Rosie on another light pole, also eating a fish. Midi came back to the nest area and before she left, she again saw Rosie and Richie on the wire. Then they flew off again.  Last year's raven's nest. Midi heard them on the nest when down there. March 17, 2023  Rosie placing stick on the nest. March 19, 2023 photo by Toaster28  Rosie on the rail. March 21, 2023. cap by watcher  Rosie on the nest. All back to normal. March 21, 2023. cap by chaya.  Richie flying with his fish. March 23, 2023. Photo by Toaster 28.   incoming stick by Rosie March 23, 2023. photo by Toaster 28.  Fly in to sheave. 3 25 23. 12:07 pm. cap by watcher  Rosie brings a stick 3 25 23. 12:46 pm. cap by lee.  Both on the sheave. March 26, 2023. 12:17 pm. cap by PP  Close up of Richie's injured talon 3 25 23. cap by watcher  Messy nest. March 26 2023. cap by midi  Intruder. March 27, 2023. cap by watcher.  Two on the sheave. March 30, 2023. 1:56 pm. cap by watcher  Rosie brings a fish to the nest. March 28, 2023. from video by VA  Trying to make a nest on the sheave. March 30, 2023. 1:46 pm. cap by Dinnae ken.  RnR on the crane together. 3 31 23. 4:40 pm. cap by PP.  CK on the rail. 3 31 23. 4:52 pm. cap by watcher Fetching a stick from the ground. March 31, 2023. Toaster 28.  ACK on the rail. April 2, 2023. 2:10 pm. cap by J There have been a few ACK's. We cannot know if any were successful CK's but there is some hope.  Richie arrives on the nest mound. April 3, 2023. 11:48 am. cap by watcher  Rosie on the sheave nest April 3, 2023. 8:39 am. cap by PP  Converging boats of different sizes. April 3, 2023. 6:28 pm. cap by midi And of course, the boats provide an endless source of entertainment when the osprey are away.  Footing is tricky on this nest, but Rosie persists. April 5, 2023. 12:42 pm. cap by PP April 8: The weather has been sunnier and warmer and Richie and Rosie seem to be responding appropriately. They are spending much more time on the nest area and today Richie brought fish to Rosie! The usual pattern is emerging. to chatters' chagrin, however, the osprey pair has chosen the pulley/sheave as the location for their nest. It does not look as secure spacewise and they have trouble maintaining balance when they bring sticks. But they have their reasons and we can only wonder what those reasons are and "Trust the Ospreys."  Richmond brings a clump for the nest April 6, 2023. cap by watcher  A handy perch for Rosie. April 7, 2023. 11:29 am. cap by PP  Fish arrival. 4 8 2023. 11 am. cap by watcher  Richie on the sheave nest 1pm. 4 8 23. cap by midi  Rosie on the strut with a lively fish. 4 9 23 8:41 am. cap by Dk.  Rosie sleeping on the rail 4 9 23. cap by Dk April 10-12: Rosie and Richie have definitely chosen the pulley/sheave area for their nest this year and they have been busy bringing sticks and other nesting material. It is beginning to really look like a nest. They are also spending time together on the nest. They still spend the nights elsewhere. They were perching on the ROV wires at night but lately they have been out of sight of the cameras. Richie has brought some fish to Rosie as well.  Rosie flying in a stick. April 10, 2023. cap by watcher  Richie brings a fish to the nest. April 11, 2023. late morning. cap from VA's video.  Rosie eating a fish on her strut. April 12, 2023. 9:57 am. cap by PP  Rosie working on the nest. April 13, 2023. 11:53 am. cap by midi  ACK on the nest. April 14, 2023. 10:57 am cap by midi  Quiet time for Rosie. April 14, 2023. 5:39pm. cap by midi  Rosie eating a fish on the strut. April 16, 2023 cap by watcher  Green rope brought in. April 17, 2023. cap by watcher  Green rope on the nest. April 17, 2023. Cap by watcher.  ACK on the wire. From Toaster's video of April 18, 2023, 5:42 pm.  First fish of the day for Rosie. April 19, 2023. at 8:35 am, cap by Dinnae ken.  Sleepy Rosie on the rail. April 19, 2023. 9:22 pm. cap by craigor  Rosie with a flatfish April 20, 2023. 4:43 pm. cap by watcher  Both on the nest. 4 21 2-23 4:08 pm. cap by midi Welcome Rosie Welcome back, our Rosie Welcome home today. We are glad to see you, Our favorite osprey. Did you have a good time Down in Southern clime? Do you like to be alone, Down there on your own? Now it’s time to get busy, Find Richie and mate, Gather sticks and eelgrass, Start to nestorate. Lay some eggs, one, two, three For us all to see. We will watch day and night, To dawn’s early light. Chicks will hatch and will grow, Keeping us on edge, Until the day that fully grown, They decide to fledge. Then we will scan the skies For their bright blue bands. Until you and they decide, To migrate to Southern strands. Then Richie will be alone, Again a bachelor. And we will have to wait To see what is next in store. But Rosie, you will return, For you always do. We know we will see you again, We can count on you. So let’s raise a toast To our ospreys dear, Here’s to Rosie and Richie, And a new osprey year! Midi 2021 |