Egg laying is a peaceful time. After a successful CK(cloacal kiss, i.e. copulation) Rosie lays an egg about 25 hours later. There is little fanfare. This year, longtime watchers learned to recognize the signs and were ready when Rosie laid her eggs.. After one egg, there must be another successful CK then another egg is laid. Rosie laid 3 eggs in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Three eggs is common. The eggs are laid about three days apart. The female may sit less on the first egg, in order to slow its growth, so that all three eggs hatch closer together. A chick hatched much later than its siblings does not fare as well.
For videos of egg laying, see:Videos
Most videos are on GGAS YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gn6yIRa_cBKExVmHdg3jQ
Some older videos are on Tony\'s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ajbrake48/videos
Some videos from 2017 are on the Archives page: www.sfbayospreys.org/archives
2017
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/skHiNDkxy-g
Egg 2 laid: http://sfbayospreys.org/170404-second-egg-laying-slo-mo-kcrt/
Egg 3, storm just before power outage: https://youtu.be/R8L7T229K94
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/nm7_-UioZK8
Egg 2 laid: https://youtu.be/SVaLGUisDwU
Egg 3 laid: power was out
Most videos are on GGAS YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gn6yIRa_cBKExVmHdg3jQ
Some older videos are on Tony\'s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ajbrake48/videos
Some videos from 2017 are on the Archives page: www.sfbayospreys.org/archives
2017
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/skHiNDkxy-g
Egg 2 laid: http://sfbayospreys.org/170404-second-egg-laying-slo-mo-kcrt/
Egg 3, storm just before power outage: https://youtu.be/R8L7T229K94
Egg 1 laid: https://youtu.be/nm7_-UioZK8
Egg 2 laid: https://youtu.be/SVaLGUisDwU
Egg 3 laid: power was out
2019
Rosie laid three eggs in 2019, on March 31, April 3 and April 6. These dates were very close to the 2018 dates, despite her earlier arrival to the nest. Once she lays her eggs, she spends most of the time on the nest. Richie's role is to bring her fish. Both ospreys continue to bring nest material, especially soft grasses for the nest bowl.
Rosie laid three eggs in 2019, on March 31, April 3 and April 6. These dates were very close to the 2018 dates, despite her earlier arrival to the nest. Once she lays her eggs, she spends most of the time on the nest. Richie's role is to bring her fish. Both ospreys continue to bring nest material, especially soft grasses for the nest bowl.
 Egg number 1, laid March 31 |  Egg number 2 just laid April 3, 2019 cap by Kat |
 Rosie and three eggs April 15, 2019 cap by J. |
Egg 1 laid: youtu.be/DH1CHIIV2QM
Egg 2 laid: youtu.be/K68Mlltxmos
Egg 3 laid:https://youtu.be/nKzw7RNEoSE
Egg 2 laid: youtu.be/K68Mlltxmos
Egg 3 laid:https://youtu.be/nKzw7RNEoSE
However, in 2019, Richie requested and received more incubation time. He seems to love scooching onto the nest to keep the eggs warm.The scooching is to position the brood patch (a bare patch on the chest). Perhaps he likes the warmth too. This led to some humorous episodes, with Rosie nudging Richie off the eggs or Richie bringing a fish to Rosie then hurriedly grabbing his place on the eggs while she flew off to eat the fish. Rosie, in turn, began to catch more of her own fish.
The teal gifts disappeared gradually, but a grinning monkey took their place. Rosie allowed the monkey to stay, although she pushed it to the edge of the nest, where it lay waving to the passing boats before being obscured by a large tuft of grass.
The teal gifts disappeared gradually, but a grinning monkey took their place. Rosie allowed the monkey to stay, although she pushed it to the edge of the nest, where it lay waving to the passing boats before being obscured by a large tuft of grass.
Rosie, rope and Monkey April 4, 2019 cap by Midi
 Incoming fish. Cap by C April 15, 2019 |  Fish presentation to Rosie. cap by C April 11, 2019 Richie usually presents the fish then flies off with it to eat the head, to return about 5 minutes later with the fish for Rosie. |
 Fish hand-off to Rosie. She grabs it and flies to the strut to eat it usually. Cap by C April 11, 2019 Richie catches a fish then flies around with it, to deter intruder gulls, crows and other ospreys. Then he flies to the nest to show it to Rosie before flying off again to eat the head. He returns to bring her the fish, which she grabs and she flies off. First she guts the fish, then she eats it. During this time, Richie gets his incubation time, which he seems to love. |  Gutting the fish. Cap by SaMo, April 15, 2019 |
 Rosie waits for her turn. April 18, 2019 10:46:18 am cap by Midi |  Richie is not budging. Rosie insists on her turn, nudging and finally poking Richie (gently) with her foot. April 18, 2019 10:46:29 am cap by Midi |
Rosie appears to be doing more of her own fishing lately. She has been seen with a fish only a few times, but she is often wet and does not beg for fish. So Richie is nesting more and Rosie is fishing more. An interesting twist.
The couple on the nest April 18, 2019 cap by Midi Not often, but sometimes, both ospreys are on the nest. Richie is always on guard, whether on the nest or nearby. The moment an intruder flies by, he chirps a warning and flies to the crane or the nest, ready to defend his new family. Richie is proving himself to be a good father this year.