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Fly with the Ospreys

This is a page about  the Whirley Crane Osprey nest in Richmond. CA. Its purpose is to provide information to those who are new to the cam.  It also proffers osprey related poetry, songs and stories. If you have a poem or song or chart you'd like to see on this site, please contact Midi.
All writing and personal photos are the property of the authors and may be shared only for non profitable purposes. Courtesy would dictate letting this site know if you do so. 
All photos captured from the camera are the property of and used by permission from the Golden Gate Bird Alliance. They are not to be copied from this site without permission from GGABA If you enjoy this site, please consider sending a contribution to:
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goldengatebirdalliance.org

Memorial to Whirley

7/5/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Whirley on lower ledge of crane, wondering how to get back to the nest, on Fledge Day July 3, at 9 in the morning. She did get back to the nest in time for breakfish.
Whirley was the first chick to hatch on the Whirley Crane nest on May 12, 2017, to Richmond and Rosie. This was not the first year the nest had been used, but it was the first year there was a camera, provided by the Golden Gate Audubon Society, so that humans could watch and enjoy and learn about ospreys on the SF Bay.  Whirley and her sibling Rivet captured the attention and love of many people, both local and afar. A lively chat group ensued. Whirley fledged successfully on July 3. In the early morning of July 4, she flew off the nest for some reason and wasn't seen again until July 5, when a barge crew fished her out of the Bay. She was taken to Wildcare but her injuries were too extensive and they had to euthanize her. Her sibling Rivet was banded, migrated South in the Autumn of 2017 and returned briefly to the nest in 2018.
PictureLast Evening on the Nest with Rivet. July 3, 2017. She flew off early the morning of July 4, before it was light.


Ballad for Whirleybird
(tune: Old Blue, supply your own voice!)
 
There was an osprey named Whirley
Lived on a crane not in a tree.
Hello, Whirley, we’re glad to meet you.
Hello, Whirley, and your sibling too.
 
One day Whirley said to mother nearby
“Momma dear, I want to fly.”
“Go on, Whirley, give it a try.
Go on, Whirleybird, you can try to fly.”
 
So Whirley lifted off from the nest,
Hovered in the air above the rest.
“Good job, Whirley, now you are free.
Good job, Whirley, now, you’re just like me.”
 
The next day, Whirley left the nest,
Flew around then landed to rest.
“Come back, Whirley, come home to me.
Poppa has a big fish to eat.”
 
After a while, Whirley grew hungry
So she flew back to her family.
“Good girl, Whirley, you got your wish.
Now it’s time to eat your fish.”
 
But that night, Whirley could not rest,
And so she flew again from the nest.
“Come back, Whirley, it is still night,
“Wait until early morning light.”
 
But Whirley that restless bird
Didn’t heed a single word.
“No,Momma, I want to be free.
And  I just want to be me.”
 
Whirley flew all that day
Up and down and around the bay.
Chirping, “Here I am, family, now I am free.
Here I am, family, don’t you worry about me. 
 
Then Whirley dove into the Bay
To catch her  first own fish prey.
“Oh no, Whirley, wait for us to come too.
“No, no, Whirleybird,, we have to teach you.”
 
But for Whirley it was too late,
Her restlessness cast her fate.
“Good-by, Whirley, we’re sad to see you go.
Good-by, Whirleybird, we’ll miss you so.”
 
Now Whirley dives into primordial sea
Catches shining fish for all to see.
Dive on, Whirley, catch a fish for me.
Dive on, Whirleybird, be wild and free.
 
And she soars so high in the skies
The sun reflects her golden eyes.
Fly on, Whirley, fly to the sun.
Fly on, Whirleybird, oh restless one. 
 
Now when you look up in the sky,
If you chance to see our Whirley fly by, 
Tell her, hello Whirley, now you’re wild and free.
Fly high, Whirleybird,, looking down on me. 
 
Hello, Whirley, now you’re wild and free,
Fly high, Whirleybird, looking down on me.  
 
Midi 7/17
Picture
Whirley on Dutra Barge, July 5, 2017 after being fished out of the Bay.

​In Memoriam 


       You were always the restless one,                  
       Ever looking towards the sun                         
      Just waiting for the day                                  
     When you could fly away.                             
 
        You were eager to try                                     
                   To spread your wings and fly                                    
        While your brother wanted to rest                    
         You couldn’t wait to leave the nest.               
 
            And that restlessness cast your fate               
         As you flew off into the late                          
                     Dark night sky on your own,                                    
​Spent the next day alone.                    
 
       Now,Whirley, a year from that day               
         We send our loving thoughts your way          
           Pray that you now are flying high                  
                    In some far off, beautiful sky                                    
          Fishing in a mythical sea                                 
        Happy and content to be free.                        
            
 
Midi 7/5/18
Picture
photo capped and remade by Crow
 Whirley, the Osprey
​Rivet's big sister
May 12, 2017-July 8, 2017
​Good by, Whirley Bird. You will live in our memories.
1 Comment
Ella B link
10/21/2023 04:49:28 pm

Hi thaanks for sharing this

Reply



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    Midi

    is a poet and writer of children's stories who has been watching the adventures of the ospreys on the Whirley Crane Nest in Richmond, Ca. for the past eight years. 

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    The Archive will not let me keep posts except by date. So before 2020, the dates are not accurate. The subjects of posts before then are listed here:

    June 2019 WWOC Glossary
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    July 2018 In Memoriam 
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