With his family flown and Rosie down South, Richie spends little time on the nest in the Winter. He spends his days on various perches, watching and fishing. He spends some nights on the Richmond Yacht Club nest and other nights in parts unknown. But he does keep an eye on his nest. When an intruder comes to the nest, Richie is there to chase it away.
2017
A camera was first installed on the Whirley Crane nest on February 14, 2017. (It had been installed earlier but needed repairs). The ospreys had already built a nest atop the crane in earlier years, however. Now, with the camera, their lives could be observed 24 hours a day. A website was set up on March 29 for the public to watch as well, and a chat group formed. Many became regulars and eventually called themselves the WWOC (World's Worst or Wackiest Osprey Chat) for their tendency to wander from subject to subject. Many others were lurkers, watching but not joining chat.
Richmond watching the installation of the camera. Feb. 2017 Photo by Tony.
The Nest February 2017 photo by Tony
Rosie arrived at some point. I do not have the date or a photo. She and Richie mated and spent time together.
 March 31, 2017 Both ospreys on the crane. |  March 30, 2017 CK |
2018
In 2018, the chat was already established. The GGAS was kind enough to leave the cam and chat site up all Winter and the chatters were eagerly watching the nest. Richie roosted offsite, but made occasional visits to the nest to establish proprietary rights and then to watch for Rosie. The lighting was spectacular that season, with sparkles and halos.
The nest was rather dilapidated at that point. Richie began bringing sticks, as he awaited Rosie's return.
 December 2, 2017 |  Richie on sand spit Oct. 5, 2017 |
Richie and visiting crows Feb. 3, 2018
Messy Nest Feb. 22, 2018
Building up the nest Feb. 19, 2018
Then on March 2 in the early evening, Rosie arrived, heralded by a rainbow.
Rosie on nest March 2, 2018 5:54 pm Richie, who may have been having a little tryst with the female (named Eileen by chatters) at the Richmond Yacht Club nest and who had dealt with a female intruder (Theda) at the Whirley nest, lost no time in reconnecting with his Rosie. He immediately began to help fix up the nest (nestorate), bringing sticks, eelgrass...and various other items.
 Richie bringing nest materials March 4,2018 cap by J. |  Hey, Rosie, would this be good for the nest bowl? March 5, 2018 cap by J. |
Richmond brings a ship to the nest. Cap by SaMo March 3, 2018
And Rosie got right to work, using the materials he brought to make a comfortable nest bowl and a nest railing.
 Rosie in newly hollowed out nest bowl March 8, 2018 |  Rosie nestorating March 9, 2018 |
 Talking Fish cap by Crow  March 4, 2018 at 6am cap by J.  Waiting patiently for a fish March 13, 2018 10:42 am |  Richie showing off? Cap by SailMonkey  March 4, 2018 at 11 am cap by Craigor Rosie and Richie got right to it. They knew what to do. But Richie had other duties as well. His mate expected to be fed. Sometimes she waited patiently; other times, if he took too long, she called for her fish. Richie was a good provider.  Richie brings a fish March 16, 2018 10:42 am |
 Richie, where is my fish? March 13, 2018 1:48 pm |  Rosie finally has a fish. March12, 2018 3:44 pm |
2019
In 2019, Richie didn't visit as often in January, possible due to more rain or because there were no serious challengers. In February, he has been coming regularly, usually in the morning. We do not have many good photos since the close-up nest cam was down for a while.
 Richie on nest with new ferry February 20, 2019 cap by SailMonkey |  January 2, 2019  Feb. 11, 2019 at 10:38 am |
On February 23, at 2:22 pm, Rosie arrived without fanfare and a week earlier than last year, catching chatters by surprise. Luckily, the camera was now reinstalled, with a new self- washing mechanism.
Richie getting sticks ready for Rosie. Feb. 23, 2019 at 2:19 pm cap by Dianne A.
Rosie arrives, greeted by Richie. Feb. 23, 2019 2:22 pm cap by Dianne A
Richie lost no time bringing her fish and a gift.
 Richie brings a gift Feb. 24, 2019 at 7am cap by J |  Richie brings a fish for Rosie Feb. 24, 2019 at 10:23 am cap by Robin |
At first, there was less action. Richie was not been seen much on the nest. Perhaps he was spending time at the Richmond Yacht Club still. Rosie sat all day Feb. 25, in the driving rain. She finally flew off later in the day.
 On February 27, Rosie had to contend with a very persistent corvid intruder. Osprey intruders also came by more frequently in 2019, possibly due to an increased population and thus more young unpaired ospreys. All caps are by Kat |   |
When the weather became warmer and sunnier, the couple upped their game. Richie finally began bringing fish to Rosie and both brought sticks and grass to make the nest bowl. And they began to copulate.
 |  Rosie moves in to get her fish 3/11/19 cap by Midi |
Some things remained the same: together on the nest watching the Bay, the big car ships and the famous pivot, Richie bringing fish, Rosie demanding and grabbing her fish, nestorating..
 bringing a stick 3/11/19 cap by Kat |  Rosie preparing the nest bowl 3/11/19 cap by J. |
 Rosie with fish 2/28/19 cap by Midi |  Richie with fish 3/8/19 cap by C |
But every year has its differences and surprises: there is a new ferry, the chatters have upped their game, with some stunning caps, especially of flight, and with gifs and videos. And Richie has changed his color preference in gifts. Teal is the new deal.
 Osprey landing March 10 2019 cap by SaMo  Richmond-SF ferry cap by Midi |  Richie brings two fish at once 3/11/19 gif by Robin  teal blanket on nest cap by K 3/6/19 |
The couple was also a bit slow to get started with copulation. But when the weather improved, they got to it. This year, the chatters are not only logging fish brought to the nest but also the CK's (cloacal kisses aka copulation). Osprey sexual organs shrink during off season. They must both be receptive for copulation. This year, despite her earlier arrival, Rosie was not receptive at first. But that soon changed. By egg-laying time, chatters had reported-- and Robin charted-- 100 successful copulations.
 CK 3/14/19 cap by Midi |  CK 3/15 19 cap by SaMo |
| Over the Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, An osprey is flying, Soaring high in the sky. Somewhere over the rainbow, By the Bay, Rosie is flying home to us, Flying home today. She’s flying through the Golden Gate, And at the nest her loyal mate Will meet her. We’ll also hurry to the nest, To see our Rosie we love best So we can greet her. Somewhere over the rainbow Ospreys fly. They fly over the rainbow; Why, then, oh why can’t I? -Midi Rosie's Song to Richie Up in the nest, on Whirley Crane, Hang your head over, listen to the rain. Hang your head over, Richie, my dear Listen for my call, for I am near. Stay on the nest, my mate Richie Wait for me there, do not forsake me. I will be true to you, if you’ll be true to me, So do not fly over to the RYC. When I arrive, I have but one wish, I will be hungry, please bring me a fish. I do not need red, I do not need teal, But a quick CK will seal the deal. Hang your head over, in the misting rain, Wait for me Richie, I’ll soon see you again. -Midi | Rosie's Return 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? Then when it 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 O’er the Bay Rosie flew. She went 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 make ourselves a home, And raise a family too. We now 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 |