We're getting close to osprey season. Two ospreys have been seen on the Porter nest bowl near the entrance to the auto building. Richie has been seen eating fish various places. He hangs out on light poles to eat his fish and at night perches on a wire at the ROV ship. He has two favorite spots.
There are, as usual, visits by other animals: crows, ravens, little birds and raccoons. But they don't stay long. Recently, two ospreys were seen on the Richmond Yacht Club nest.
The weather has helped erode the Whirley nest and the higher sheave nest. Hopefully, Richie and Rosie will choose the lower nest this year, which is flatter and better suited to building than last year.
Rosie should be back within a month. She usually returns the last week of February to the first week of March.
There are, as usual, visits by other animals: crows, ravens, little birds and raccoons. But they don't stay long. Recently, two ospreys were seen on the Richmond Yacht Club nest.
The weather has helped erode the Whirley nest and the higher sheave nest. Hopefully, Richie and Rosie will choose the lower nest this year, which is flatter and better suited to building than last year.
Rosie should be back within a month. She usually returns the last week of February to the first week of March.
 Richie on the wire of the ROV. December 30, 2023 at 9:09 am. cap by midi |  Richie on the wire after new cam installed. January 24, 5:18 pm. cap by Toaster 28. |
 The nest hump. January 20, 2024. 4:31 pm. cap by dk. |  Corvid on the drooping nest. January 16, 2024. 11:31 am. |
 Visiting raccoons. January 20 at 2 am. caps from video by VA |  |
Recently, the GGBA set up a new camera on the upper part of the crane. Its resolution is much better than the old one and so is its range. Viewers have been enjoying the enhanced view. And the cam operator has been exploring the entire area, looking for ospreys farther afield. Thanks to all who contributed to make the camera possible.
 Richie on a light pole. January 25, 2024 at 11;01 am. cap by midi |  osprey flying off a light pole. January 25, 2024, 11:46 am. Cap by Toaster28. |
Richie on the ROV wires at night. January 26, 2024 at 6:23 pm. cap by midi.
3 ospreys on 3 light poles. January 29, 2024
 |  Our intrepid chatter, craigor, climbing up to clean the Whirley nest of human made debris. (The official GGBA policy is to leave wild areas alone except where there has been human intervention such as fishing lines left lying around. Hence, nobody will actually work on the nest to make it more "suitable" for the birds. They know best what they like and want and are capable of creating that. We are but onlookers.) |
The recent weather has done much to rid both the Whirley nest and last year's Sheave nest of sticks and other nest material, leaving them ready to be rebuilt. All are waiting to see what nest Richie and Rosie choose, or if they will decide to nest on a light pole this year. Nobody knows.