Fledging is a watershed moment for the chicks and a time of anxiety and pride for those who watch the ospreys. A rite of passage into adulthood. The almost adult ospreys are now on their own, expected--with encouragement and help--to fly around the Bay and to fish for their own prey. This does not happen all at once. First there is the practice hovering the week before fledging. The adults watch protectively at this stage, and some chatters think they see the adults demonstrating proper flying behavior. One day, a hover turns into a short flight as the wind catches the osprey's wings and it learns forward movement. Usually, it lands very close to the nest, either on the platform below the nest or on the crane's cables. An accidental fledge is when the bird is caught by the wind and lands inadvertently. Fledge has happened between days 51 and 55 for the chicks of years 2017-2019, around the first week of July. Chatters always hope for fledge before the fireworks on July 3 and 4. The fledgling sometimes has trouble getting back to the nest and stays on the platform or cable a while, making various attempts until finally succeeding. The adults will position themselves near one or the other chick, offering support. Sometimes, a fledgling on the cable will walk its way back to the nest.
Subsequent short flights occur soon after, but landings are still a bit unsure. Within two days, the fledgling is flying quite adeptly, using the wind, positioning its wings properly. Flights become longer and soon the fledgling appears back on the nest only to sleep and to eat. Gradually, they begin to sleep and sometimes feed elsewhere as well, but they come back to the nest when hungry.
It is not entirely known when they begin fishing. One study showed that ospreys are hardwired to fish and do not have to be taught. But it appears to observers on this cam that the adults do provide some support and/or demonstrations. The young osprey will return to the nest wet but without a fish, and start begging. And some have observed in the distance a young osprey inexpertly diving into the Bay and coming up without a fish, to appear wet on the nest a bit later. At any rate, the adult ospreys continue to feed their offspring as long as they're around. Richie ups the ante at this point, delivering over 40 fish a week .Rosie also pitches in now. The young ones come to the nest when hungry and watch, then scream, for a fish. They tend now to insist on their own fish and will mantle to protect their meal. Often two fish are delivered in a row, to appease both chicks. A final, touching sight of the osprey year is Rosie on the nest with a fish but no young ones around to eat it.
Subsequent short flights occur soon after, but landings are still a bit unsure. Within two days, the fledgling is flying quite adeptly, using the wind, positioning its wings properly. Flights become longer and soon the fledgling appears back on the nest only to sleep and to eat. Gradually, they begin to sleep and sometimes feed elsewhere as well, but they come back to the nest when hungry.
It is not entirely known when they begin fishing. One study showed that ospreys are hardwired to fish and do not have to be taught. But it appears to observers on this cam that the adults do provide some support and/or demonstrations. The young osprey will return to the nest wet but without a fish, and start begging. And some have observed in the distance a young osprey inexpertly diving into the Bay and coming up without a fish, to appear wet on the nest a bit later. At any rate, the adult ospreys continue to feed their offspring as long as they're around. Richie ups the ante at this point, delivering over 40 fish a week .Rosie also pitches in now. The young ones come to the nest when hungry and watch, then scream, for a fish. They tend now to insist on their own fish and will mantle to protect their meal. Often two fish are delivered in a row, to appease both chicks. A final, touching sight of the osprey year is Rosie on the nest with a fish but no young ones around to eat it.
2017
Whirley (WB) returning to the nest after fledge. July 3, 2017  Rosie happy with Whirley's progress |  Whirley on lower platform trying to figure out how to return to the nest. July 3, 2017 at 9:08 am |
Last night on the nest together. July 3, 1028 11:32 pm
 Rosie happy with Whirley's progress. Whirley (WB) was the first of the chicks on the nest to fledge on camera. On July 3 in the day, she flew and landed on the platform below the nest. She stayed there a while trying to figure out how to get back to the nest. After a number of hours she managed and returned to the nest. That night, in the early morning dark (July 4), she flew from the nest. Two chatters observed this but no one knows what actually caused her to fly. She was heard around the Bay the next day, there seemed to be chirping between her and the adults, and Richie seemed to be visiting her. Then on July 5, she was found in the water, with a blunt force injury by crew members of a Dutra barge. They informed authorities and she was taken to Wildcare in San Rafael. Unfortunately, they were unable to save her. (memorial to Whirley on another page).  WB fledged looking back at ZR on nest, not yet fledged, July 3, 2017 cap by J |  Injured Whirley on Dutra barge after being fished out of the Bay. photo courtesy of Dutra  Whirley on cable after fledge July 3, 2017 cap by Ali |
Last night together on the nest: Rosie, Rivet, Whirley July 3, 2017 11:32 pm
Rivet had not shown as much interest in fledging and he was two days younger than Whirley. But he fledged on time after all on July 5, 2017 in the late morning. He fledged to the crane cable and had an easier time than Whirley had. He also elected to return to the nest, first taking short flights then longer ones, That night, he returned to the nest. While watching his fledge, chatters had become aware of human activity below the nest. Later that afternoon, they were informed that Whirley had been found and transported to WildCare.
Rivet's take-off at 10:36am on July 5, 2017
Rivet on the crane 10:55 am July 5, 2017
 Tuckered-out Rivet July 5, 2017at 6:31 pm |  Back on the nest, but let's try one more flight before bedtime. 10:17 pm |
Rivet stayed around until mid-August. He was last seen on the nest on August 18 but might have stayed in the area.
Les BB posted on August 20:Yesterday around 4 p.m. I saw the most beautiful sight from my deck in Brickyard Landing. I was thinking about Rivet and reached for my phone to log onto the cam. We heard an osprey calling from way above. Three ospreys soaring high above circling together going higher and higher. One continuing to call. Finally one broke off and headed South while the other two went higher and higher until they were out of our sight. I was filled with emotion thinking this may be the last time I see my beloved Rivet.
Les BB posted on August 20:Yesterday around 4 p.m. I saw the most beautiful sight from my deck in Brickyard Landing. I was thinking about Rivet and reached for my phone to log onto the cam. We heard an osprey calling from way above. Three ospreys soaring high above circling together going higher and higher. One continuing to call. Finally one broke off and headed South while the other two went higher and higher until they were out of our sight. I was filled with emotion thinking this may be the last time I see my beloved Rivet.
2018
In 2018, there were three chicks and a different dynamic on the nest.The chicks interacted quite a bit and often argues, as siblings will do. They loudly yelled for fish and fought each other for possession. The two boys, Roemer (VW) and Victory (VU), both fledged on the same day, Roemer at 9:40 in the morning and Victory at 11 am on July 1. Brisa, the female and the youngest, followed five days later, on July 6 at 2:36 in the afternoon. There was little drama. They flew to the crane then back and practiced this subsequently, returning to the nest each time. Gradually, they learned to fish for themselves and soon left the nest. Brisa hung around after the two males left. Then she flew to the nearby Richmond Yacht Club nest and began to beg there. Finally, she seemed to be catching her own fish, and one day she disappeared, either to fly around or to migrate.
In 2018, there were three chicks and a different dynamic on the nest.The chicks interacted quite a bit and often argues, as siblings will do. They loudly yelled for fish and fought each other for possession. The two boys, Roemer (VW) and Victory (VU), both fledged on the same day, Roemer at 9:40 in the morning and Victory at 11 am on July 1. Brisa, the female and the youngest, followed five days later, on July 6 at 2:36 in the afternoon. There was little drama. They flew to the crane then back and practiced this subsequently, returning to the nest each time. Gradually, they learned to fish for themselves and soon left the nest. Brisa hung around after the two males left. Then she flew to the nearby Richmond Yacht Club nest and began to beg there. Finally, she seemed to be catching her own fish, and one day she disappeared, either to fly around or to migrate.
 Roemer fledges July 1 at 9:10 am cap by Robin |  Victory fledges July 1 at 11:47 am cap by Robin |
Roemer, Victory and Brisa on July 4, 2018
Brisa fledges July 6 2018 at 2:38 pm
Brisa on crane with parent July 7, 2018
 Richie brings a fish, July 30, 2018 |  Wet chick on nest, presumably from trying to fish. July 19, 2018 |
Last seen in the area: Roemer (VW) Aug. 8, 2018; Victory (VU) Aug. 12, 2018; Brisa (VV) Sept. 2, 2018 at the Richmond Yacht Club nest. Photo taken by and property of Dianne A.
2019
The year 2019 brought yet another dynamic. With the early demise of the third chick Gamma, there were again only two chicks on the nest. This time, one male and one female (as determined by weight at banding time). As usual, the oldest Peace-up (WP, male) was the first to fledge, with little fanfare. Also, the chatters were more adept at taking caps and even making gifs, thus throughly documenting the process. And the new cam washer allowed a clear view.
 Peace-up (WP) hovering June 29, 2019 |  Two chicks flapping July 1, 2019 gif by Robin or J |
Peace-up (WP) fledge, June 30 5:42 in the evening. Cap by Robin
 Peace-up walking down the cable July 9, 2019 sped up gif by Robin |  Kiskasit watching her brother on the crane July 1, 2019 gif by J |
Kiskasit's (ZK) fledge was a bit more eventful. She fledged on July 3 but ended up on the lower platform and had trouble figuring out how to exit. Finally she managed. Then she ended up on the platform again. But within a day or two, she was flying expertly to and from the nest.
Kiskasit hover July 3 4:35 pm cap by Midi
 Rosie watching over Kiskasit on lower platform, July 3 evening cap by Calgal |  Kiskasit on platform again. |
The family together July 9, 2019
Richie and Rosie were kept busy bringing fish to the two chicks. Richie would sometimes bring two fish one after the other. Peace-up seemed to be catching his own fish fairly soon and he left the nest. He was not sighted after that. Kiskasit had more trouble fishing. First she just screamed for fish at the nest. Richie took to just dropping a fish to her and flying off right away. Then she began trying to fish. She had trouble pinning down a still live flooding fish and lost them overboard. At one point, she began to bring bat rays to the nest and appeared to have been stung several times. But she learned and begged less and less as she brought her own fish to the nest. Finally she left the nest. Her departure was the latest to date of any fledgling.
Last seen in the area: Peace-up (WP): Aug. 15, 2019; Kiskasit (ZK): Sept. 11, 2019
Last seen in the area: Peace-up (WP): Aug. 15, 2019; Kiskasit (ZK): Sept. 11, 2019
The Empty Nest
After the chicks have left the nest for good and become independent, Rosie and Richie hang out together for awhile until Rosie migrates. They also fix up the nest a bit, presumably to assert ownership. Then one day, Rosie migrates and Richie is left alone. He now spends time on the sand spit and elsewhere, making occasionally visits to the nest.
After the chicks have left the nest for good and become independent, Rosie and Richie hang out together for awhile until Rosie migrates. They also fix up the nest a bit, presumably to assert ownership. Then one day, Rosie migrates and Richie is left alone. He now spends time on the sand spit and elsewhere, making occasionally visits to the nest.
 September 19, 2019 cap by Midi |  September 13, 2019 cap by Midi |
Rosie and Richie on Marker 12 Sept. 17, 2019
Sept. 25, 2019 Rosie saying good-bye to Richie? Her presumed last day on the nest. cap by Robin, enhancement by SaMo