Week 1: Bobblehead/Downy stage
The chicks hatch after 36-40 days of incubation. The first chick may have a longer incubation so that it hatches closer to the others. The mother accomplishes this by sitting on the egg less and thus it is not as warm. A chick hatching too long after the others will be at a disadvantage, may not get enough nutrition, and may not survive.
The chicks hatch after 36-40 days of incubation. The first chick may have a longer incubation so that it hatches closer to the others. The mother accomplishes this by sitting on the egg less and thus it is not as warm. A chick hatching too long after the others will be at a disadvantage, may not get enough nutrition, and may not survive.
 First Day May 9, 2018 cap by SaMo |  Rosie looking at 2 chicks May 12, 2018 cap by Robin The first week after hatching is spent under the mother. The chicks are fairly naked, covered with a soft down, and susceptible to cold. The chick sits up with its head bobbling, beak open for food. Rosie, and occasionally Richie, places a bit of fish in the chick's beak. At first this is hit or miss, but the chick quickly learns to accept the fish bit and swallow it. When sated, it lies down in a food coma and sleeps. This is repeated when the next fish arrives. Richie the provider has to up his game and provide more fish now. (see the fish chart). |
Downy stage at night May 17, 2019 cap by Midi
 WP/Alpha's first bite May 9, 2019 cap by SaMo |  Three chicks May 16, 2018 cap by Midi |
Week 2: Rock 'em Sock'em Stage
By week 2, the chicks' necks are stronger and they have learned to feed. They spend more time out from under Rosie but still sleep under her. They begin to make peeping noises and they begin to develop dark down. They also may compete a bit with each other, by bopping each other. This has varied by the year. Whirley, the elder, bopped her baby brother. The three chicks in 2018 engaged in some of this. In 2019, the two surviving chicks were surprisingly docile towards each other, even sharing at feeding time.
By week 2, the chicks' necks are stronger and they have learned to feed. They spend more time out from under Rosie but still sleep under her. They begin to make peeping noises and they begin to develop dark down. They also may compete a bit with each other, by bopping each other. This has varied by the year. Whirley, the elder, bopped her baby brother. The three chicks in 2018 engaged in some of this. In 2019, the two surviving chicks were surprisingly docile towards each other, even sharing at feeding time.
May 21, 2017 Whirley and Rivet gif by Craigor?
Feeding Time May 24, 2018 cap by Midi
 Squabble May 24, 2018 cap by Dianne A |  May 20, 2019 cap by Midi |
Week 3: Reptile stage
In week three, the chicks begin to develop pin feathers, causing them to look a bit like little dinosaurs. They become aware of their large wings and often stretch them. There is no more fighting. They have grown too large to fit under Rosie, so they sleep next to her. And they are more immune to the vagaries of the weather. They poop dramatically, not yet having learned to control the direction. They still mostly sleep and eat but are beginning to take an interest in the world around them. They begin to walk around the nest, on their knees. Their legs are not yet strong enough to walk on their feet. Rosie feels comfortable leaving them on the nest alone for short periods of time.
In week three, the chicks begin to develop pin feathers, causing them to look a bit like little dinosaurs. They become aware of their large wings and often stretch them. There is no more fighting. They have grown too large to fit under Rosie, so they sleep next to her. And they are more immune to the vagaries of the weather. They poop dramatically, not yet having learned to control the direction. They still mostly sleep and eat but are beginning to take an interest in the world around them. They begin to walk around the nest, on their knees. Their legs are not yet strong enough to walk on their feet. Rosie feels comfortable leaving them on the nest alone for short periods of time.
Twilight on the nest May 29, 2018 cap by Midi
 May 29,2018 Three V's alone on the nest cap by Midi |  May 30, 2018 Rosie supervising the chicks cap by Midi |
May 26, 2019 wingercizing gif by Robin
 Alpha (WP) showing talons May 23, 2019 cap by SaMo |  Poop happens May 29, 2019 cap by Robin |
Weeks 4 and 5: Becoming an Osprey: feathers and eye focus
In week 4, the feathers come in. The chicks are very itchy(presumably) and preen a lot. They move around the nest on their knees and watch the world off the nest more, moving their heads from side to side to learn to focus. (for information on this, see Poole).They begin to stretch their wings.But they still sleep a lot as well. They still poop indiscriminately but are beginning to learn. (In 2019, miraculously, the POG disappeared, thanks to our new screen washer). And their parents continue to feed them, tearing off increasingly larger pieces of fish to place in their beaks.
In week 4, the feathers come in. The chicks are very itchy(presumably) and preen a lot. They move around the nest on their knees and watch the world off the nest more, moving their heads from side to side to learn to focus. (for information on this, see Poole).They begin to stretch their wings.But they still sleep a lot as well. They still poop indiscriminately but are beginning to learn. (In 2019, miraculously, the POG disappeared, thanks to our new screen washer). And their parents continue to feed them, tearing off increasingly larger pieces of fish to place in their beaks.
June 8, 2017 ZR and WB cap by Midi
 feathers coming in June 8, 2019 cap by SaMo |  June 6, 2019 cap by SaMo |
 June 2, 2018 The three V's cap by Midi |  WP wing-ercizing June 9, 2019 gif by Robin |
Weeks 6 and 7: Growing Up
By this time, the chicks are growing up. They have reached much of their body weight and are hard to tell apart from the adults, except for the white on their wing tips and the different colored eye. They walk on their feet now and stretch their very long wings. They practice flapping. And they begin to self feed, grabbing bites from under Rosie as she feed them, or grabbing the entire fish and dragging it off. They are banded in mid-June and receive their initials (USFWS) and their permanent names, suggested and voted on by chatters and Facebook enthusiasts. (Banding is not photographed, so no pics here of that) A few days before fledging, they begin to hover over the nest for brief periods.
By this time, the chicks are growing up. They have reached much of their body weight and are hard to tell apart from the adults, except for the white on their wing tips and the different colored eye. They walk on their feet now and stretch their very long wings. They practice flapping. And they begin to self feed, grabbing bites from under Rosie as she feed them, or grabbing the entire fish and dragging it off. They are banded in mid-June and receive their initials (USFWS) and their permanent names, suggested and voted on by chatters and Facebook enthusiasts. (Banding is not photographed, so no pics here of that) A few days before fledging, they begin to hover over the nest for brief periods.
Bow to your Partner ZR and WB mid-June 2017 cap by Crow
 Oops, dropped the kelp on the chicks June 2017 cap by ?  Roemer wingercizing June 12, 2018 gif by J |  June 22, 2018 cap by Midi  Three chicks waiting for the fish June 28, 2018 cap by Robin |
 Self-feeding June 18, 2019 gif by Robin |  Post-banding June 15, 2019 gif by J |
 June 18, 2019 cap by Midi |  Rosie happy with Whirley's progress June 26,2017 |
 WP hovering June 26, 2019 gif by J |  gif by Robin |