New Osprey Season 2020

3/2/2020

Part 1: Waiting for Rosie

Feb. 17-23

The ospreys are returning. Chatters can see them flying around the nest. Richie is coming almost daily to the nest and has found some visitors. A female has come to the nest and there has been some mantling. We expect Rosie any day now. Feb. 23: the female has come the past three days. Richie attempted one CK.

Feb. 26

The young female has been coming regularly to the nest. Sometimes Richie joins her and mantles. sometimes she sits there alone. She seems more comfortable and calmer now. Everyone remarks on her beauty: prominent eyebrows and many speckles on her chest. Richie appears to be spending time at the RYC nest as well. Other signs of courtship are beginning, such as bringing nest material.

Meanwhile, everyone is watching for Rosie. For she is integral to the beginning of the season. Richie is always around, so we know what to expect from him. But Rosie is the big unknown, presumably staying in El Salvador or other Southern region, and returning each year around this time. Rosie, where are you? Richie is waiting, as are we all! In 2018, Rosie arrived on March 2 and in 2019 she arrived on Feb. 23, so we are still within that range.

Sightings of Richie this Winter, compiled by Robin
Also of Great Horned Owl visitors. Crows and ravens have also visited regularly. This year the gulls didn't come much.

January visitors, all:

2020-0101. Wed. 8:58: Osprey 20 min
2020-0106. Mon. 11:43: Osprey 1.5 hr
2020-0108. Wed. 3:46: GHO 17 min
2020-0108. Wed. 8:18: Osprey 2 hr
2020-0109. Th. 10:40: Two ospreys 5 min
2020-0109. Th. 14:14: Osprey 30 min
2020-0110. Fri. 16:19 Osprey 12 min
2020-0115. Wed. 13:35 Osprey 1.4 hr
2020-0124. Fri. 12:23 Richie 3 min
2020-0124. Fri. 13:00 O w/ fish strut 55 min
2020-0125. Sat. 00:10 GHO 7 min
2020-0127. Mon. 2:25 GHO 72 min
2020-0130. Th. 12:15 Richie w/ fish 24 min
2020-0130. Th. 13:49 Richie w/ fish 17 min
2020-0130. Th. 16:39 O top of crane 6 min

2020 GHO (Great Horned Owl) visitors only:
2020-0108. Wed. 3:46: GHO 17 min
2020-0125. Sat. 00:10 GHO 7 min
2020-0127. Mon. 2:25 GHO 72 min
2020-0206. Th. 22:44 GHO 2 min
2020-0215. Sat. 01:41 GHO in basement

February Osprey only: (marker 12 is the ship channel marker in the Bay across from the nest. It can be seen from the ATN camera)

2020-0206. Th. 9:06 Richie 3 min
2020-0215. Sat. 10:47 O on Mkr 12, 72 m+
2020-0216. Sun. 9:44 Richie nest defense 3 m+
2020-0216. Sun. 11:20 O on Mkr 12, 38 min
2020-0217. Mon. 13:52 O on Mkr 12 43 min
2020-0218. Tu. 6:56 O on upper cable 9 min
2020-0218. Tu. 7:40: Two O on nest 3 min
2020-0218. Tu. 7:44: O on top of crane 22 m
2020-0218. Tu. 8:15 O on upper cbl 2 min
2020-0218. Tu. O on Mkr 12 total 163 m
2020-0219: We. 6:45 O cable, nest, rail 30 min
2020-0219: We. 12:01 Female O on nest 6 min
2020-0219: We. O on Mkr 12 total 265+ min
2020-0219: We. O on tip of crane total 23 min
2020-0220. Th. 6:54 Female O on nest 16 min
2020-0220. Th. O on Mkr 12 total 193+ min
2020-0220. Th. O on top of crane total 21 min
2020-0221. Fri. 10:41 Female O on nest 5 min
2020-0221. Fri. 10:49 Female O on nest 2 min
2020-0221. Fri. 11:53 Female O on nest 32 min
2020-0221. Fri. O on Mkr 12 total 91+ min
2020-0221. Fri. O top of crane 105 min
2020-0222. Sat. 7:05 Female O on nest 55 min
2020-0223. Sun. 6:50 3 CK attempts with new O
2020-0223. Sun. 7:23 Female O on nest 32 min
2020-0223. Sun. 11:04 Stick to crane top
2020-0223. Sun. Os on top of crane 50 min
2020-0223. Sun. 18:28 Two O on RYC nest ? min.
2020-0224. Mon. 9:20 Female O on nest 7 min
2020-0224. Mon. 13:50 Female O on nest 1 min
2020-0224. Mon. O on top of crane 42 min
2020-0224. Mon. Os were on RYC nest often
2020-0225. Tu. Female O on nest 28 min
2020-0225. Tu. Os top of crane 109 min
2020-0225. Tu. Os in RYC nest 165 min

Fish: See the Fish Matrix under the cam view: 4 fish have already been logged for this year, all brought to the crane but not the nest. Richie (or other osprey) has also been seen quite often on Marker 12 eating a fish. There is no need to bring the fish to the nest without a mate or chicks there.

A female nicknamed Delilah took up residence on the nest in late February. She was stunning, with dark eyebrows and a full speckled chest. She also appeared to be young and inexperienced. Richie mantled to her but didn't cater to her as much as he does to Rosie. He brought an occasional fish, one an oddly stiff one, and some nest material. Dlo, as she was then named, paid no attention to the nest material. She was apparently not ready for nesting. Later, there were some air battles with three or four ospreys involved. And when Rosie arrived March 5, there was a brief skirmish, then Rosie settled in and Dlo has not been seen.